Carcavelos
Portugal · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.8m WNW
Wind: 3 km/h NNE (offshore)
Beach faces: SW
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:37Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 3/2mm wetsuit or spring suit for 17°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
Today's briefing
0.9m swell at 7s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 17°C.
AI-generated summary for Carcavelos. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Carcavelos
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Tomorrow around 2pm (score: 20). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Carcavelos.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Carcavelos
Carcavelos is a highly regarded, expansive beach break located on the Estoril coast, just west of Lisbon, Portugal. The seafloor is composed of compacted sand that forms numerous shifting sandbars across a wide bay. Because the beach faces south, it is naturally protected from the dominant, frequently overwhelming north-westerly Atlantic winter storms. Instead, it relies on powerful south-westerly groundswells, or massive north-westerly swells that refract heavily around the Cabo da Roca headland. A northerly wind blows directly offshore here, holding up the peaks and creating intensely hollow, cylindrical barrel sections on the best banks. The break produces punchy, fast A-frames that provide both left and right-hand options. Due to the high velocity of the wave and the frequent occurrence of steep, plunging lips, Carcavelos is primarily suited for intermediate to advanced surfers. It serves as an excellent proving ground for tube-riding and rapid, vertical manoeuvres in a highly accessible urban setting.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Carcavelos. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Carcavelos?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.