Vale do Lobo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's take a good, hard look at the local waves for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this forecast period is a tough one for Vale do Lobo. We're looking at a long stretch of very small, weak swell. The first real window of any note doesn't show up until Monday morning, the 7th of September, and even then, it's not going to set the world on fire. After that, we've got days and days of tiny waves, with a lot of "poor surf conditions" flagged up. There's a big gap from the afternoon of the 8th of September all the way through to the 13th where it's basically flat or junk. The combined swell energy is in the low double digits or even single digits for most of that time, which is very weak. This sort of blank run is pretty normal for the area when the swell drops out, so don't lose hope – forecasts can change.

Now, let's talk about the one or two moments that might be worth a paddle.

The best bet on the whole menu is going to be Monday morning, the 7th of September. We've got a clean 2ft swell from the WSW with a 14-second period (Vale do Lobo). That period is a groundswell, which will give the waves some shape and energy, even at that small size. The combined swell energy is moderate at 186, and the wind is a light offshore from the NE. That means clean, peeling waves. This is a beginner-friendly spot, and with those small, clean conditions, it's ideal for a learner or someone just wanting a longboard cruise. The water temperature is 68°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you might want a spring suit.

Another small window opens up on Tuesday morning, the 15th of September. It's another glassy start with the wind from the ESE, and a 1ft swell from the WSW with a 13-second period. The combined energy is low at 44, but if you're desperate for a slide and the forecast holds, those glassy conditions will make the most of it. It’s a promising but less certain call that far out.

The rest of the period is a write-off for a decent surf. You get a few morning windows with clean conditions and a small, weak swell, but the energy just isn't there to make it worthwhile. The afternoon winds are all onshore or cross-onshore, turning what little swell there is into chop. If the wind is up and the waves are tiny junk, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

So, to sum it up: you've got a very short, clean window on the 7th of September that's your best shot. After that, it's a long wait for a possible glassy, tiny wave on the 15th. It's a quiet period, lads.

Rusty.

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