Surf Forecasts:
Prainha surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period, SE swell with 447 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Prainha this week:
The surf forecast for Prainha over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Prainha in the next 16 days are 1.1m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Prainha over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
First up, the honest truth: this 16-day window for Prainha is a bit of a slow burner. For the first block of days, we’re looking at tiny, weak waves that are barely worth paddling out for. The swell energy is low, often sitting in the two-digit range, and the wind is sometimes okay but the swell just isn’t there. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 67°F.
Prainha is an advanced spot, and it’s exposed, but from Wednesday the 19th through to Friday the 22nd, the forecast is mostly poor. Wednesday morning has a bit of a cross-off breeze, but the swell is only 3ft from the east with a short period of 8 seconds and combined energy of just 84. It’s small and weak. Thursday morning the 20th goes glassy, but the swell drops to 2ft and the period is even shorter. Not much to get excited about.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are slightly better. The swell is still small, around 1ft to 2ft, but the period pushes up to 10 or 11 seconds. The combined energy is still weak (55 and 65), but the mornings are glassy. You’ll catch a few small, clean waves if you’re itching for a paddle.
Now, we hit a gap. From Monday the 24th, things get interesting in a different way. The swell starts to build. Monday morning the 24th sees a 3ft swell from the southeast with a 14-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 406. That’s a moderate groundswell. The problem? The wind is cross-shore and it’s messy. The waves are there, but the quality is only marginal. This pattern continues through the week.
The standout window is Monday the 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September. Monday afternoon sees the swell bump to 4ft from the east, period 8 seconds, and combined energy hits 250. More importantly, the wind is a clean cross-off from the southwest. This is the best combination of wave height and clean conditions in the whole outlook. Crowds are sometimes an issue at Prainha, so keep that in mind.
Then Tuesday the 1st of September afternoon, the swell gets bigger, up to 6ft from the east with a 9-second period. The combined energy skyrockets to 835. That’s serious power. But the wind is a light cross-on, so it’s not as clean. This one is for the experienced crew only – 6ft is pushing into expert territory.
The rest of the second week sees dropping swell and more rain, with the wind staying onshore or cross-shore, so the quality fades out.
If I had to pick the one true standout, it’s Monday the 31st of August afternoon. That’s your best shot at a decent, clean session with some push. The promise of the 1st of September is real, but it’s a bit rougher around the edges.
Stay tuned, forecasts can change. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu night, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | NNE 3 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 12 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 14 | SE 16 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
80 | 57 | 42 | 39 | 39 | 5 | 24 | 25 | 46 | 122 | 25 | 53 | 67 | 82 | 78 | 447 | 406 | 289 | 144 | 106 | 55 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:56PM0.85m | 8:16AM0.89m | 3:35PM0.79m | 8:15PM0.78m | 4:21AM0.59m | 3:08PM0.78m | 9:53PM0.78m | 11:24AM0.96m | 11:16PM0.86m | 12:24PM1.07m | 00:13AM0.98m | 1:05PM1.18m | 00:56AM1.11m | 1:41PM1.28m | 1:33AM1.23m | ||||||
Low Tide | 11:29AM0.50m | 11:50PM0.37m | 12:09PM0.63m | 6:01PM0.74m | 5:01AM0.59m | 1:12PM0.76m | 6:41PM0.65m | 6:06AM0.46m | 7:09PM0.56m | 6:44AM0.34m | 7:33PM0.48m | 7:14AM0.23m | 7:53PM0.42m | 7:40AM0.13m | 8:09PM0.38m | ||||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 5 | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 21 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | SE 10 | ENE 8 | SE 9 | SE 12 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 14 | SE 16 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | E 6 |
80 | 57 | 42 | 39 | 39 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 46 | 122 | 24 | 53 | 67 | 82 | 78 | 447 | 406 | 289 | 144 | 106 | 31 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | E 14 | SE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | E 11 | — | SE 10 | E 8 | SE 10 | ENE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | SE 12 |
2 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 25 | 36 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 55 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | — | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | SE 11 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | — | — | E 7 | — | E 6 | E 7 | NE 6 |
2 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 5 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 33 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 3 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SE 5 | — | SE 5 | — | — | — | SE 4 | — | — | ENE 7 | — | ENE 4 | — |
— | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 39 | — | 16 | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | 4 | — | 10 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 126 | 0 | 11 | 213 | 33 | 61 | 235 | 52 | 11 | 128 | 52 | 0 | 235 | 121 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Catarina - Norte | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Prainha Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Prainha provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Prainha can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Prainha surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Prainha) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Prainha may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Prainha is 14 km (9 miles) from Sao Francisco do Sul. If you plan a holiday in Santa Catarina - Norte, look for hotels and other accommodation in Sao Francisco do Sul. Sao Francisco do Sul has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











