Zambujeira do Mar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s size up the surf for Zambujeira do Mar over the next couple of weeks.

The first few days are pretty grim for a proper surf. Wednesday and Thursday are small and choppy with cross-shore and cross-onshore winds. The swell is there, but it’s not clean, and the energy is weak to moderate (122 to 235). Friday gets lumpier, and by Saturday afternoon the wind is a fresh 30 km/h from the northwest, making it nasty. The swell is pushing 7ft, but the onshore wind is just ruining it.

Then we get a bit of a glimmer. Sunday morning the 16th of August could be a sneaky one. The swell is a solid 7ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the wind is light cross-onshore. The combined energy is strong (776), but the forecast is cautious – it says the swell might be too big for this break. That’s a word to the wise; this is an exposed spot, and that much NW swell might turn it into a washing machine. Keep an eye on it, but don’t get your hopes up.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Monday morning the 17th of August. Get your gear ready. The wind goes glassy – a perfect 5 km/h from the northeast. The swell is a quality 6ft from the NW, with a 9-second period, and the energy is moderate-to-strong (513). This is about as good as it gets for Zambujeira. Clean, lined-up waves with that offshore breeze. Expect a few others out, though, as it’s a very consistent spot that can get a crowd.

The rest of the week after that is a mixed bag. Tuesday sees a smaller NNW swell, but the wind swings onshore in the afternoon. Wednesday and Thursday are mostly poor with moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds. The swell drops right off, with energy falling to 112 by Wednesday morning. There’s a bit of a window on Friday morning the 21st of August – a 6ft NW swell with a 10-second period and light cross-shore winds. The energy is solid (626), but the forecast is only marginal, so it’s a gamble.

The following week loses its spark. The wind stays onshore or cross-onshore for most of it, and the swell period drops to a short, weak 7 seconds. The energy is mostly moderate (159 to 534), but the wind just ruins the surface. The 25th of August has a bigger 7ft NW swell, but it’s accompanied by a 20 km/h onshore breeze, so it’s a lumpy mess. Not worth a paddle.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is Monday morning, the 17th of August. That glassy, clean session is the highlight. Sunday morning is a wildcard if you’re an expert, but it’s a gamble. After that, it’s a lot of onshore slop, especially in the second week. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Rusty.

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