BLOG

If you’re just starting your surfing journey – or even if you’ve been doing it for a while – understanding how to choose the best conditions for a good session can make all the difference. In Carcavelos, where the waves vary greatly according to wind, swell and period, knowing how to interpret a forecast is essential. In this article we explain everything you need to know, including our preferred weather forecast website: Windguru.

The best website to check the conditions

There are several websites dedicated to sea forecasting, such as Surfline, MagicSeaweed or Windy. However, for those who surf in Portugal – and especially in Carcavelos – Windguru is undoubtedly the most complete and reliable in our opinion.

Provides clear, detailed and up-to-date information on:

• wind intensity and direction

• wave size and direction

• period of waves

• times of the tides

• rain

That’s why this is the website of choice for Carcavelos Surf School.

How far in advance should you plan your session?

One of the biggest doubts of those who are learning is: “How many days in advance can I trust the forecast?”

The short answer: it’s not worth planning more than two days in advance.

Conditions can change drastically from one day to the next, especially wind and swell direction. Thus, the ideal is to start analyzing the forecast 48 hours before but only commit to the final decision on the same day or the previous one.

What to look for in Windguru?

→ Wind

In Windguru, white or blue wind means very weak wind, which is exactly what you should look for. The sea will be smoother, the waves will form better, and the session will become safer and more fun.

If there is wind, offshore wind is ideal.

Offshore vs. Onshore – what’s the difference?

• Offshore wind: blows from land to sea. Keeps the waves “standing” and therefore, more perfect.

• Onshore wind: blows from the sea to land. Spoils the shape of the wave, leaving it more “broken” and disorganized.

In Carcavelos offshore wind is north wind. So, when you see wind coming from north on Windguru, you’re on the right track.

→ Wave direction (swell)

This point is crucial for Carcavelos. Although Windguru indicates the wave height in meters, this number is not real when the swell comes from the north, because Carcavelos is facing south.

The Atlantic Ocean is located to the west of mainland Portugal.

This means that:

• North swell: the value of meters in Windguru is practically fictitious.

• Swell from west or south: much more realistic and relevant to Carcavelos.

For beginners and intermediate surfers, the ideal will be a swell from west or south between 1 and 1.5 meters. With this direction, the waves arrive with good energy and form properly along the beach.

→ Wave period

The period represents the time between consecutive waves and is an indicator of energy.

• Large period → more time between waves → more energy accumulated → bigger and stronger waves.

• Small period → many waves followed → energy dissipates → smaller and weaker waves.

In Carcavelos, a period between 9 and 12 seconds is usually ideal for initial and intermediate levels, also depending on the wave height.

Confirming conditions on the day: the role of BeachCam

Even with a good forecast, nothing substitutes seeing the waves live. This is where BeachCam comes in, an indispensable tool for any surfer who frequents Carcavelos.

On the BeachCam website you can access the live camera installed on the beach of Carcavelos, which immediately shows you:

• the actual wave size

• the frequency of the series

• whether the sea is organized or messy

• the number of people in the water

• the light, tide and wind conditions as they are at the moment

BeachCam is especially useful because even when the forecast looks good, the sea can surprise you – sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.

So, before you get out of the house, always do a quick check. In a few seconds you can confirm if it’s worth going or not.

Conclusion

Choosing good conditions for surfing in Carcavelos becomes simple when we combine Windguru to analyze the forecast and BeachCam to confirm the real state of the sea on the day. As conditions change quickly, it is not worth planning more than two days in advance. In general, look for weak wind and offshore wind (north wind), swell from the west or south between one and a meter and a half, and a period that gives good energy to the waves.

With these fundamentals, you will be much more prepared to hit the best days and make the most of each session.