Zambujeira do Mar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking at Zambujeira do Mar for the next couple of weeks.

First things first, don’t get your hopes up for the first few days. There’s nothing worth paddling out for until the weekend. We’ve got a stretch of quiet, small, and messy conditions from now through to Friday morning. Don’t rush to wax your board.

Things start to show a little life on Saturday the 5th. The morning will have a clean, cross-off breeze from the NE at 6 mph, with a small 3 ft swell from the NW. It’s surfable, but it’s nothing special. The energy is weak (115), and the waves will be very ordinary. The water is sitting at 67°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you might want a spring suit.

Sunday the 6th brings a bit more size. The morning sees 4 ft of NW swell, but the period jumps to 12 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The energy bumps up to 422, so there’s some punch behind it. The wind is cross-shore and light, so it’s clean but marginal. The afternoon gets choppy as the wind swings NW and picks up to 12 mph, blowing cross-on. That’s a no-go.

Monday the 7th is the best bet in this first week. The morning has 4 ft of WNW swell, period hanging at 12 seconds, and a clean cross breeze from the N at 9 mph. The energy is solid at 626, and it’s the best the forecast has to offer. It’s still only a marginal forecast, but this is the standout. The afternoon will get blown out, so make it a dawn patrol.

The middle of the week is full of choppy, cross-on winds and poor surf conditions. Thursday the 10th morning is a tease – clean, cross-off breeze from the NNE at only 3 mph, with 3 ft of NNW swell. But the energy is moderate (259) and the period is a decent 10 seconds. It’s clean, but small. Worth a look if you’re desperate.

The second week is a bit of a write-off for good quality. The swell sticks around, but the wind is constantly on or cross-on, making for choppy, bumpy waves. The size builds – Wednesday the 16th sees 6 ft to 7 ft of NW swell, but it’s all cross-on and messy. By the 18th and 19th, the swell gets up to 7 ft to 8 ft from the NW, but it’s too big for this break, according to the data. The energy is massive (over 800), but the conditions are poor. If you’re an expert and love a challenge, maybe, but for most of us, this is a skip.

Honestly, if you’ve got to paddle out, make it Monday the 7th morning. That’s the only real window that’s worth getting excited about. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too out of control.

Stay salty,
Rusty

Read more