Ponta Preta
Cape Verde · Atlantic Africa
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.5m S
Wind: 23 km/h NNE (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: W
Cross-offshore wind. Still favourable, expect reasonably clean waves with some texture.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 10:25Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Warm 23°C water. Shortie or boardshorts.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
Today's briefing
0.6m swell at 10s. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 22°C.
AI-generated summary for Ponta Preta. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Ponta Preta
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 6am (score: 7). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Ponta Preta.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Ponta Preta
Ponta Preta is a formidable, world-class right-hand point and reef break situated on the island of Sal in Cape Verde. The seafloor is composed of a severely shallow, razor-sharp volcanic rock and cobblestone shelf that borders a deep-water channel. This rigid bathymetric ledge flawlessly intercepts massive north-westerly winter groundswells tracking across the North Atlantic, forcing the wave energy to compress and pitch violently over minimal water depth. It offers a short, intensely hollow, and incredibly fast right-hand barrel. A north-easterly offshore trade wind is essential to groom the face and maintain the barrel's aperture. Because the water over the reef is exceptionally shallow and the wave breaks with unforgiving hydraulic force, Ponta Preta is strictly an advanced surfing location. Mistimed take-offs or slow trimming inevitably result in severe impacts with the volcanic rock. It demands elite spatial awareness, robust physical resilience, and expert heavy-water tube-riding capabilities.
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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 Ponta Preta. 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 Ponta Preta?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.