Figueira da Foz - Cabedelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – it’s a pretty dismal start. We’re looking at a solid week of small, weak, and messy surf at Cabedelo. The first real sniff of something worthwhile doesn't show up until the end of the month. The water is sitting at 69°, which feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only warmth we’ve got going on.

For the first week, from Sunday the 19th right through to the 26th, it’s all small stuff. Swell heights are mostly below 3ft, with a short, weak period of 5 to 7 seconds and combined swell energy that’s barely breaking 100 (53-206). The winds are a constant problem—mostly cross-on or onshore from the west or northwest, keeping things choppy and blown out. There’s a few mornings with light cross-shore breezes, but the swell just isn’t there to make it count. Honestly, it’s a write-off.

Then we hit the 27th and 28th. The swell does start to push up, with heights reaching 6ft to 7ft from the NNW, and the energy jumps into the moderate-to-strong range (257-459). But it’s still plagued by moderate to strong cross-onshore winds. The period is short (6-7 seconds), so the waves will be crumbly, mushy, and choppy. Not great for paddle surfing—this setup looks more interesting for the kite crew than us.

Now, here’s where it gets a little interesting. The 29th of July, Wednesday morning, the wind finally swings around to a cross-offshore from the southeast, 9 mph. The swell drops a touch to 6ft from the NNW, but the period stretches to 8 seconds. The combined energy is strong (479). It’s still a big wave for a beginner, more of an intermediate-to-expert zone, but the clean conditions are a major positive.

The standout, though, is the 30th of July, Thursday morning. We’ve got a 6ft swell from the NNW, period bumping up to 9 seconds, and the combined energy is at its peak for the whole forecast (614). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SSE at 12 mph. The waves will have some real punch and shape. This is the best bet of the whole outlook, but remember, 6ft is solid, so it’s for the experienced crew. The crowds at Cabedelo can be around sometimes, but on a Thursday morning with a decent swell, it might be a bit more manageable.

Friday the 31st of July morning is also a honorable mention. The swell drops to 5ft from the NNW, still with a 9-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the WSW at 3 mph. That’s about as clean as it gets, but the energy is lower (395). Good for a session if you don’t want the biggest day.

After that, the first week of August sees the swell dropping back down. The 1st of August Saturday morning has a clean 4ft from the NNW, but the energy is moderate (212). The 2nd of August Sunday morning has a nice offshore easterly at 3 mph, but the swell is only 4ft. It’s surfable but not the standout.

So, for the pick of the pack, I’m circling the 30th of July, Thursday morning. It’s the biggest, cleanest, and most powerful window we’ve got. The 29th of July morning and the 31st of July morning are solid backup options if you want a slightly different wind or a smaller wave.

Rusty.

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