Figueira da Foz - Cabedelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, it’s Rusty. Let’s break down the waves at Figueira da Foz – Cabedelo.

We’ve got a slow start, but there’s some real quality later if you’re willing to wait. The water temp is right around normal for this time of year, nothing weird going on.

The first proper chance to surf is Saturday morning, 22nd August. It’s not pumping, but it’s clean. A 1.3m swell from the NNW with a 9-second period, and the wind is glassy – calm out of the south at 5 km/h. The combined energy is weak (320), so it’s small and a bit soft, but for a beginner-friendly beach/pier spot, that’s fine. The offshore wind is east, so no chop. Crowds can show up sometimes, but on a small Saturday morning you might sneak a few waves. Keep it easy.

Saturday afternoon the wind turns onshore from the west at 15 km/h, and that’s it – poor.

Sunday the 23rd brings more size – 1.7m from the west, 11-second period, moderate energy (679). The wind is cross-off from the SSE at 30 km/h, so it’s clean but a bit windy. It’s a marginal call. The afternoon drops to 1.4m (460 energy), still cross-off. Not bad, not great.

Monday the 24th is a washout. Swell hits 2.1m from the SW with a short 8-second period and strong onshore winds – 35 km/h in the morning, 30 km/h in the afternoon. Lumpy and cross-on. Skip it.

Tuesday through Thursday (25th to 27th) is mostly small and messy. Swell from 1.0m to 1.9m but short periods and onshore winds. Energy drops into the weak zone (84 to 288). Nothing worth paddling for.

Now, Friday morning, 28th August – this is the big one. Swell jumps to 3.0m from the WNW with an 11-second groundswell period. Energy is powerful (1983). But that size is too big for this break – it’s expert-only. If you’re an experienced surfer and know the spot, the morning is glassy calm with zero wind. The swell direction is WNW, not the ideal W, so it’s not perfect, but a glassy 3.0m day is rare. The afternoon stays big at 2.4m (1388 energy) but gets cross-on wind from the NW at 20 km/h. That morning window is your only shot.

Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th drop to 1.0m to 1.5m with cross or cross-on wind and weak to moderate energy (103 to 359). Not worth it.

Monday 31st gets cleaner in the morning: 1.2m from the NW, 8-second period, light north wind at 10 km/h giving a cross-off breeze. Energy is moderate (259). Good for a few cruisy waves.

Tuesday 1st September morning is another solid option. Swell bumps to 1.8m from the NW (8-second period, 438 energy) and the wind is glassy again from the south at 5 km/h. Clean and punchy. The afternoon turns onshore, so go early.

The rest of the first week of September – Wednesday 2nd through Friday 4th – is mostly small and onshore or cross-on. Swell hangs between 0.8m and 1.5m but wind and direction kill it. A couple of marginal mornings, nothing special.

Then, Saturday morning, 5th September – this is the other highlight, more than a week out so keep watching. You’ve got a 1.8m swell from the NW with a very long 13-second groundswell period. Energy is strong at 1135. The wind is glassy. Excellent for experienced surfers. The long period will produce nice shaped waves but at a beach break it might run a bit straight. Still, with no wind and that size, it’s a beauty. The afternoon goes to 1.6m (712 energy) but gets cross-on wind from the SW.

Sunday 6th September drops back to 1.1m with north wind cross-shore – marginal.

Bottom line: the two real standouts are Friday morning, 28th August – huge and glassy, but experts only – and Saturday morning, 5th September – long-period groundswell, glassy, excellent for experienced surfers. For the average punter, Tuesday morning, 1st September is the best clean, solid session. The rest is mostly small and windy. Be patient.

Rusty.

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