Balneario Sao Jose Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, things are pretty flat and ordinary at Balneario Sao Jose. The first week is a bit of a write-off for decent waves. From Sunday the 19th right through to Wednesday the 29th, we’re looking at a long stretch of ankle to knee-high slop, mostly around 2ft to 3ft. The swell energy is weak, sitting between 78 and 200 (moderate at best), and the period is short, around 8 seconds, so it’s just windswell. The wind is light for most of it, often offshore or glassy, but the waves are just too small and gutless to get excited about. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

Now, Thursday the 30th of July is where it starts to get interesting. The morning is still small, but by Thursday afternoon we finally see a pulse of energy. The swell jumps to 5ft from the south, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy hits 319 (moderate). The wind goes glassy, which is a major plus. This is the first real standout of the outlook. The waves will be clean and the size is good for a fun session, but it’s not too big for intermediate surfers. The crowd factor is “often” here, so expect company.

Moving into Friday the 31st, the swell stays around 4ft from the south, energy is building to 331–366, but the wind shifts onshore, making it more marginal. Saturday the 1st of August morning is magic again – glassy, 3ft south swell with a 12-second period, and energy at 398. That’s a proper groundswell, clean and punchy. The long period (12 seconds) means better shaped waves, but at a beach break like this, it can get a bit straight. Still, with glassy conditions, it’s a top pick.

But the real standout – the best on offer – is Sunday the 2nd of August morning. The swell hits 5ft from the south, with a very long period of 16 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 1279 (strong). That’s the kind of south groundswell that gets the points and reefs working. However, at a beach break, that long period can make the waves break too straight, and the cross-shore wind (3 mph) is not ideal. It’s still the biggest, most powerful swell of the window, but it’s really for experienced surfers. The afternoon is similar, 5ft and 15 seconds, but onshore wind makes it messy.

Monday the 3rd of August wraps it up with a clean, glassy morning, 3ft south swell at 14 seconds, energy at 401. A solid, clean end to the run.

So, to sum it up: the first 10 days are a bust. The best sessions are Thursday afternoon the 30th of July, Saturday morning the 1st of August, and the biggest, most powerful swell on Sunday morning the 2nd of August – but that one is for the experienced crew. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because a run of decent groundswell like this can change fast.

Rusty.

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