
Surf Forecasts:
Prainha surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, E swell with 186 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Prainha in the next 16 days are 1.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Prainha over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about this 16-day window for Prainha. Gotta be honest: it's a pretty flat run overall, nothing to get stoked about. There's a long stretch of meh conditions at the start, and the real interest doesn't show up until late in the second week.
The first few days, from Friday the 17th through the 24th of July, you're looking at small, weak surf. Swell heights hover around the 3ft, coming mostly from the east with a short, weak 8-second period. The combined wave energy is low, rarely getting above 174. The winds aren't helping either – mostly onshore or cross-shore. Water temp is sitting around 65°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing special there. This stretch is for the die-hards who just want to get wet, but it's not worth rushing out for.
There's a slight improvement Monday morning the 27th of July with a little 3ft, 7-second swell from the ESE and clean offshore winds from the west. It's surfable, but still very ordinary. Same goes for Tuesday morning the 28th – a tiny 1ft swell but with a very long 14-second period, showing a bit more energy (115) and clean conditions. It's a tease, more than anything.
The one true standout in this whole outlook is Tuesday afternoon, the 28th of July. That's when things finally wake up. A 3ft swell from the SSE, but with a long 13-second period, and the combined energy jumps right up to 344 – that's moderate energy, a big jump from what we've been seeing. The wind goes light south, a nice cross-offshore breeze, and the conditions are forecast as clean. For Prainha, an advanced break, this is as good as it gets in this quiet stretch. The swell direction from the SSE is not exactly its optimum from the south, but the quality of the long-period groundswell and clean wind makes it the best call for a session.
Wednesday the 29th of July morning also looks decent, with a 2ft swell, 14-second period, clean conditions (262 energy), and cross-offshore winds from the southwest. It's a solid backup option. After that, it fades back into small, choppy onshore conditions again through the end of the month and into August 1st.
So, to sum it up: don't expect much for the first week and a half. Mark your calendar for Tuesday the 28th of July afternoon – that's the window with the cleanest, most energetic long-period swell on offer. It's still only moderate-sized, so not for charging, but for clean lines at Prainha, it's the pick. After that, it's back to small stuff and less reliable winds.
Stay patient. Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 62mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 10 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 13 | E 8 | E 8 | S 12 | N 4 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
133 | 20 | 124 | 169 | 169 | 117 | 3 | 169 | 127 | 3 | 14 | 108 | 84 | 86 | 68 | 66 | 64 | 18 | 16 | 66 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:26PM1.15m | 5:07AM1.19m | 6:03PM1.07m | 5:50AM1.14m | 6:40PM1.00m | 6:40AM1.07m | 7:21PM0.93m | 7:41AM0.99m | 8:11PM0.88m | 8:54AM0.93m | 4:18PM0.68m | 9:14PM0.85m | 10:17AM0.93m | 10:25PM0.85m | ||||||
Low Tide | 9:50PM0.50m | 10:28AM0.16m | 10:24PM0.46m | 11:02AM0.25m | 11:02PM0.44m | 11:39AM0.36m | 11:46PM0.44m | 12:20PM0.48m | 00:39AM0.47m | 1:13PM0.60m | 1:52AM0.50m | 6:26PM0.63m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 29 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 26 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 12 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 |
133 | 167 | 124 | 169 | 169 | 117 | 96 | 169 | 127 | 3 | 137 | 108 | 84 | 86 | 68 | 66 | 64 | 68 | 68 | 66 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | — | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 10 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
41 | 20 | 20 | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 16 | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 14 | — | — | SE 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | — | SE 10 | SE 10 |
— | — | 4 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | 15 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 8 | — | ENE 8 | — | — | ENE 8 | — | — | E 8 | N 4 | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | — | N 3 | NNW 4 | N 3 |
— | 372 | — | 299 | — | — | 226 | — | — | 131 | 14 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 73 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 4 | 4 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 28 | 11 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Catarina - Norte | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










