Prainha do Farol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s on offer for Prainha do Farol.

Honestly, the first week is a rough one. Starting Friday, August 14th, we’ve got a solid south swell running at 7ft with a 13-second period, pushing plenty of energy (1694), but the wind is a cross-onshore mess from the east at 12 mph. Choppy and blown out. Not worth wetting a suit. That pattern sticks tight through the weekend and into the early part of next week. Swell fades fast, and by Sunday morning, August 16th, we’re down to 3ft. There’s a clean moment Sunday morning with a cross-offshore breeze, but it’s just too small. By Monday, August 17th, the ocean flatlines, with combined energy at just 33. Water temp is about normal for the season. We get a completely glassy spell on Tuesday afternoon, August 18th, with the wind dropping to a whisper from the southwest at 3 mph, but the swell is barely 0.5ft. Nice to look at, not to surf.

There’s a dry spell until Friday, August 21st. That morning brings a pulse: 5ft from the south-southwest with a short 8-second period, energy at 445, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the west-southwest at 3 mph. Clean and rideable. Not massive, but a proper little window. Saturday the 22nd is also clean in the morning with a 3ft south-southwest swell at 10 seconds, but it’s small.

Now, the real standout, and the one you need to circle on the calendar, is the following week. Monday, August 24th, shows 6ft from the south at 11 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore – skip that. From Tuesday, August 25th, it locks in. Tuesday morning sees 5ft of south swell at 10 seconds with a light cross-offshore breeze – clean. Tuesday afternoon jumps to 6ft from the east at 7 seconds, still clean. Then Wednesday, August 26th, is the pick of the whole outlook: 7ft from the east-southeast at 8 seconds in the morning, clean. By the afternoon it goes glassy with 7ft from the same direction, energy at 806 and 719. That’s proper surf, clean conditions, and good quality. Prainha do Farol is exposed and does best with south in the swell; those east-southeast pulses will wrap in nicely. The size is over 6ft, so it’s expert territory. Beginners, give it a miss.

The spot is noted as inconsistent, so this run is special. Crowds are sometimes a factor, so the Wednesday glass-off will likely have company.

After that, Thursday the 27th gets messy with cross-shore winds, and by Friday the 28th the swell is dying and the wind is screaming from the northeast at 22 mph. That’s kite territory, not paddle surfing. The 16-day window fizzles out.

If you want the best, aim for Tuesday, August 25th, and especially Wednesday, August 26th. That glassy 7-7ft session is the one to chase.

Stay frothy,
Rusty

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