Prainha do Farol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The forecast is pretty bleak for Prainha do Farol for a good stretch. There’s a long run of days where it’s just not worth paddling out, so we’re looking at a gap from now all the way through to around the 4th of August before there’s something you could even call a surf.

For the first week, it’s a tough watch. Starting Tuesday, July 28th, we’ve got a tiny 2-foot south swell coming in at a sluggish 12 seconds, but the wind is messy – cross-shore and bumpy. That energy is low, only 134 (weak). It’s a poor setup, and it stays that way for days. Wednesday and Thursday are more of the same, with little waves and choppy conditions.

Thursday morning, July 30th, you get a brief moment of glassy conditions with a light easterly breeze, but the swell is still a paltry 3 feet from the south at 9 seconds. The energy is just 143. It’s surfable if you’re desperate, but it’s very ordinary. Then Friday and Saturday get blown out by strong NNE winds up to 28 mph, and the swell drops to almost nothing – 1 foot with energy down to 19. That’s not a surf, that’s a ripple.

Sunday through to Tuesday morning, August 4th, is a write-off. The swell is barely less than 1 foot. Honestly, if you’re looking for paddle surfing, there’s nothing. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than anything with a paddle.

Now we get a real glimmer. On the morning of Tuesday, August 4th, the swell finally picks up to nearly 4 feet from the south with a 10-second period. The wind goes cross-off from the NNW, and the energy jumps to 291 (moderate). It’s clean. That’s the first real chance, but the afternoon gets chopped out by a cross-onshore wind.

The standout is the morning of Wednesday, August 5th. Absolutely glassy, zero wind, with a 5-foot south swell at 9 seconds. That’s moderate energy at 422. For Prainha do Farol, that’s the best wave of the first week – clean, punchy, but note that 5 feet is getting a bit solid for beginners. Then Thursday morning, August 6th, is also clean with a 4-foot swell from the SSE, energy at 409. Good options.

For the second week, we see some serious potential. The morning of Monday, August 10th, gets a 5-foot south swell with 11 seconds and clean cross-off wind from the WSW. The energy is 936 – that’s strong. Then the Monday afternoon is even better: 5-foot south swell, 13 seconds, clean, with 1485 energy. That’s excellent, experienced surfers only territory.

But the true highlight is the morning of Tuesday, August 11th. A solid 6-foot swell from the south with a long 14-second period. The wind is light and cross-off from the WSW. The combined energy hits 1697 – that’s very strong wave energy. That is a proper groundswell, and at Prainha do Farol, a point or reef setup, it’s going to offer some serious, clean lines. That’s the expert session of the whole 16 days. The afternoon gets a bit of cross-shore, but the morning is the call.

After that, Wednesday the 12th holds 6 feet from the south at 14 seconds, still strong energy at 1741, but the wind is more cross-shore, so it won’t be as clean as Tuesday morning. Still a solid wave, but not the standout.

Water temps are sitting around 65°, which is normal for this time of year. No anomaly to report.

So, my pick: hit the dawn patrol on Tuesday, August 11th. That 6-foot long-period south swell with light offshore wind is the one. It’ll be clean, powerful, and likely uncrowded. That’s the winner. The Monday afternoon and Wednesday are backups, but that Tuesday morning is special.

Rusty.

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