Ribanceira Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Ribanceira over the next couple of weeks. The first bit of swell rolls in this Sunday morning, but the real highlight is Monday morning. The water’s sitting at 67°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

This Sunday morning, the 23rd of August, we’ve got a clean 7ft swell from the south with an 11-second period. The wind is offshore from the southwest at 6 mph, keeping it tidy. There’s moderate combined energy (1022) in the water – plenty of juice. Afternoon sees the swell bump up to 8ft from the same direction, but the wind swings cross-off from the SSE at 9 mph – still okay, but morning’s cleaner. Get out early if you can.

Now, Monday the 24th of August is the standout. The morning is glassy – wind almost nothing at 3 mph from the southwest – and a solid 8ft south swell with a very long 14-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and the combined energy is strong at 3029. This is excellent surf, but at 8ft it’s only for experienced surfers. The afternoon holds similar size and period, but wind goes cross-off from the SSE at 6 mph – still clean, but morning is the pick. Crowds can show up sometimes, so an early session is the go.

Tuesday the 25th is a mixed bag. The morning is glassy with a 6ft south swell at 12 seconds – very clean and fun, moderate energy (1100). But afternoon turns onshore from the northeast at 9 mph, and the quality tanks. Surf before lunch.

From Wednesday the 26th through the end of the month, it’s pretty grim. Onshore winds from the north-northeast and northeast, swell dropping, and combined energy fading. Wednesday morning has a 8ft swell, but with a 12 mph onshore wind and moderate energy (2169), it’s messy. By Thursday and Friday, it’s poor – small, choppy, and not worth the effort. There’s a gap of about four days with nothing decent.

Things pick up again on Tuesday the 1st of September. The afternoon brings a 10ft south swell with a short 8-second period and fresh offshore wind from the south-southwest at 19 mph. The energy is strong (1188), but that short period makes it dumpy and marginal – only for the experienced.

Wednesday the 2nd of September is another standout. Morning has a 10ft south swell with an 11-second period, gentle offshore wind at 9 mph from the southwest, and combined energy pumping at 2074. This is excellent for experienced surfers – powerful groundswell and clean conditions. The afternoon holds similar size, but the wind goes cross-off from the south – still clean but not as glassy. Experts only.

The rest of the first week of September fades. Thursday the 3rd has a glassy 6ft swell but it’s only fair, and from Friday the 4th through Monday the 7th, it’s mostly onshore, small, and ordinary. A long gap of poor conditions after that Wednesday standout.

So the calls are Monday the 24th of August morning and Wednesday the 2nd of September morning – both have solid south groundswell, clean wind, and strong energy. Everything else is a write-off. But the surf’s fairly consistent in this region, so it won’t stay poor for long. Forecasts can change.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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