Sao Pedro Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this is a tough one. We’ve got a 16-day window ahead, and for the vast majority of that time, you’re better off leaving the board in the car. The first day with any surf at all is Wednesday, 12 August, but honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for.

Overall Pattern

The whole outlook is a battle against persistent, moderate to fresh NNW winds. The swell is tiny – barely a ripple – for the first week and a half. There’s a shift around the 24th August with a little bit more size, but it’s short-period windswell with messy cross-shore winds. The combined wave energy stays very weak throughout the 16 days, with the highest readings around 40 (that’s minimal energy, folks). The water temperature sits at 70°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The Breakdown

Right from the start, Wednesday 12th August through to the 23rd, we're looking at surf heights of 0.3ft to 0.7ft. That’s flat. The wind is a consistent cross-off from the NNW, which would be a good direction for Sao Pedro, but there’s nothing to push. The swell direction is mostly from the S or SSW, with periods between 12 and 18 seconds. That’s long-period energy, but it’s so weak (combined energy between 2 and 40) that it’s not wrapping in properly. The sheltered nature of the break means it just doesn’t get enough juice.

There is a slight glimmer on Tuesday morning, 18 August. The wind turns glassy (SE, 3 mph) and the tiny 0.7ft SSW swell has a period of 16 seconds. It’s clean, but it’s still a knee-high dribble. The combined energy is only 44 (weak). For a spot that rarely breaks, seeing it this flat is a real bummer.

Then, around Monday 24th August, we get a shift. The morning brings a 2ft W swell, but the period is a shocking 4 seconds. That’s pure windswell, junk. The wind is cross-shore from the WNW at 12 mph, creating a cross-chop. The afternoon brings 2ft from the W with the same 4-second period and cross-shore winds. The combined energy jumps to 17 (still weak). This is messy, short-period slop. For a beach or point break, this setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Tuesday 25th August starts with a glassy morning (N, 3 mph) but no swell at all. The afternoon brings 2ft from the SW but again, a 4-second period. The wind is cross-off from the NW at 12 mph, which is clean, but the waves are barely there and have no power.

From Wednesday 26th August onward, we’re back to flat spells with fresh winds, and the final day, Thursday 27th August, shows a tiny 0.3ft S swell with a 11-second period and a fresh offshore wind from the north (19 mph). The combined energy is a measly 2 (ultra-weak). Clean, but completely unrideable.

The Verdict

There is no standout session in this 16-day window. The surf is too small, the wind is too strong for most of it, and the few moments of glass or offshore wind are ruined by a total lack of swell. Sao Pedro is a rare-breaking spot, so a blank run like this is more normal for the area. It’s a solid 16 days of waiting. As always, forecasts can change, but right now, this is a big fat zero.

Rusty.

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