Zambujeira do Mar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening with the surf over the next couple of weeks.

For the first few days, we’re looking at a bit of a slow start. The opening window on Monday afternoon (27th July) has a small 3ft NW swell with a short 6-second period and a light onshore wind, so it’s not really offering much. The next few days are similar – really marginal stuff. Tuesday morning (28th July) does see a little bump in energy, with a 3ft NNW swell and a 10-second period, giving a moderate wave energy (202), but the wind is cross-shore, so it’s a bit messy.

Wednesday morning (29th July) is worth a mention: the swell drops to 2ft from the NW with a 9-second period, but the wind goes glassy. That’s rare. For a brief moment, it will be clean as a whistle. The combined energy is weak (117), so it’s not a powerhouse, but a glassy morning on a wave that size is a lovely thing for a longboard. If you’re quick, you might grab a few smooth ones before the afternoon cross-onshore kicks in.

Through the rest of the week and into the first weekend of August, it stays pretty underwhelming. The swell gets a little bigger – up to 3ft to 4ft – but the period stays short, under 8 seconds, and the winds are mostly cross or cross-onshore, keeping the surface lumpy and choppy. Nothing to get excited about.

Now, hold on to your board shorts, because the second week is where things get interesting. Tuesday morning (11th August) is the standout. We’ve got a solid 8ft NW swell with a long 10-second period, but the real story is the energy – that’s a very strong 1151. The wind is cross-shore, which is workable, and the conditions are described as wind and tide favorable. This is a big swell, over 8ft, so this is strictly for experienced surfers only. The direction is NW, which matches the optimum WNW direction for Zambujeira do Mar (Portugal) pretty well. This is the best on offer, but it’s a big, powerful groundswell that will be thumping. The water temperature is 67°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so bring a decent 3/2mm suit.

Sunday morning (10th August) also has a solid 7ft NW swell with a 9-second period, giving a strong energy (643), and the wind is cross-shore. That’s another good option for the experienced crew, but it’s not quite as big or as energetic as the Tuesday morning blast.

So, the long and short of it: the first week is a bit of a write-off unless you’re desperate for a glassy 2ft session on Wednesday morning. The real deal is Tuesday the 11th – a big, powerful, cross-shore groundswell that’s only for the experts. Keep an eye on it, but don’t book your flights just yet.

Rusty.

Read more