Prainha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking for us in this stretch.

Alright, buckle up, because the first few days are pretty grim. We’ve got a slow start with very little to get excited about through the early part of the outlook. There’s a real gap here where the surf is just not cooperating.

We’re looking at Prainha for the whole run. This is an advanced wave, exposed to the swell, and it’s very consistent when there's swell, but for now, it’s just not happening.

Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th are basically write-offs. Monday morning sees a tiny 2ft SE swell with a short, weak period of 10 seconds and combined energy of only 157 – just a whisper of energy. The wind is a messy cross-shore, and the conditions are called "poor." Tuesday morning shows a bit more height, 5ft from the SSE with a 10-second period and combined energy jumping to 686 (moderate), but the wind is a strong 12 mph cross-off, and the forecast still calls it marginal. Tuesday afternoon drops off hard.

Wednesday the 8th morning is your first little glimmer. It’s small, 2ft from the ESE, period 10 seconds, combined energy 122 (weak). But the magic is in the wind – a clean 3 mph westerly that has it glassy. That’s a major positive for such a small day. It’s surfable but ordinary.

Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th mornings stay small and clean with light offshore winds. Thursday morning is 2ft from the ESE, period 11 seconds, combined energy 68. Friday morning is 1ft from the ESE, but the period stretches to 14 seconds – a groundswell, which adds a little quality, with combined energy of 112. Both are clean but tiny.

Now, here’s the standout window. Saturday morning, July 11th is the best on offer across the whole run. We’ve got 3ft from the ESE, period 12 seconds, and combined energy of 323 – that’s moderate energy. But the absolute clincher is the wind: dead calm, glassy. Zero wind from the WNW. The wave comment says "expect good surf conditions." This is the one to circle on your calendar. For an advanced break like Prainha, this is as good as it gets for small, clean swell. Crowds are listed as "sometimes" so you might get a few out, but with conditions like that, it’s worth it.

Sunday the 12th is a step down with moderate rain and cross-shore winds, though the swell stays around 3ft from the ESE with a 12-second period. Marginal.

Then we get another bump. Monday morning, July 13th brings the biggest swell of the period: 6ft from the SE, period 13 seconds, and combined energy hitting 1190 – that’s strong wave energy. This is solid, but it’s also pushing into expert territory at over 5ft. The wind is a clean cross-off from the SW at 12 mph, so it’s rideable, but it’s still rated as marginal. This is a powerful set-up, but it’s not the clean glass we had on the 11th. Morning is the call here.

After that, the rest of the run fades. Tuesday the 14th through Sunday the 20th sees tiny surf, mostly under 3ft, with combined energy mostly below 200. Periods are mixed, some go as high as 17 seconds on the afternoon of the 20th, but the swell height is only 1ft. Winds vary but are often onshore or cross-on, keeping things choppy and poor. There are a few glassy mornings (like Wednesday the 15th and Saturday the 18th) but with only 2ft and 3ft from the east with a short period of 7 seconds, the energy is weak and the waves won’t have much push. By Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st, it’s barely breaking: 0.7ft and 1ft with combined energy dropping to 17 and 49.

Bottom line: don’t bother before the 8th. Your best shot is the glassy Saturday morning of July 11th. The bigger, more powerful Monday morning of July 13th is the other option if you want size, but it’s not as clean. After that, it’s a long wait with nothing much on offer.

Stay stoked, but be patient.

- Rusty

Read more