Figueira da Foz - Cabedelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag here at Cabedelo. We’ve got some decent swell windows, but the wind is going to be the main character in this story, and it’s not always going to be on our side.

The first stretch, from Sunday the 9th through to the 16th, is going to be a bit of a grind. We’ve got waves, but they’re mostly small and weak, with energy readings only in the low hundreds (129-133). The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, which is going to chop things up and make it messy. The water temp is sitting at 68°F, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no surprises there.

There’s a bit of a jump in energy on the 13th and 14th, with readings climbing into the 250-300 range, but the wind is still not playing nice. It’s not until Sunday the 16th that we see a real pulse of energy, with readings jumping to 496-807. The swell is up to 7-8ft, but it’s short-period windswell, and the cross-shore wind is going to make it lumpy and difficult. This is a case where the size is there, but the quality is lacking. Honestly, this setup looks more like it’s for the kite surfers than for us paddle guys.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Monday morning on the 17th of August is the standout. The wind drops to a glassy 3 mph from the NE, and the forecast says wind and tide are favorable. The swell is still a solid 7ft from the NNW, with strong energy (570). The catch is, that 7ft might be pushing it for a beginner spot like this, and it could be a bit much for the sandbar. But for the more experienced crew, this is going to be the cleanest, most powerful window we get. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it might be a bit sectiony, but that glassy surface is a huge plus.

After that, the energy drops off again. The week of the 18th sees the swell fading, and the wind stays onshore or cross-shore for the most part. There’s a small window on Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th with light cross-offshore winds, but the swell is tiny, down to 1-3ft, and the energy is weak. It's not really worth getting excited about.

The following weekend, the 23rd and 24th, has some promise. The 23rd starts with a clean, light cross-offshore wind, but the swell is tiny. Then on Monday the 24th, we see another pulse of energy, with readings in the 500s and wave heights back up around 6ft. The winds are light, but the swell direction is a bit off. It’s a long way out, so I’d call it promising but not a lock.

So, bottom line: If you want the best of it, mark Monday the 17th on your calendar. The morning looks like the only time it’s going to be clean and have some push. The rest of the time, you’ll be scratching around for a half-decent wave. Stay patient, and keep an eye on that forecast.

Rusty.

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