Cardoso • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (May - July)

The South Atlantic storm track becomes most active during the late autumn and early winter months, and Cardoso's south-facing beach feels the force of every S/SSW/SW pulse that rolls out of the Argentine Basin. Average wave periods climb to 9.4-9.8s, the S/SSW/SW complex peaks at roughly 23-27% of the total swell spectrum, and the offshore northerly quadrant remains present enough to groom the lines. This is the window when Cardoso gets proper hollow, lined-up surf instead of trade-wind mush.

Fair Surf Season (April, August - September)

April marks the first reliable S/SSW groundswells of the year while the water is still warm at 22.9°C. August and September see the largest average swell heights of the year - 1.8-2.0m (6-6.5ft) - but a lot of that is E/SE trade swell, and the percentage of clean offshore wind drops to 21-26%. When a deep South Atlantic low aligns with a N/NE offshore breeze, the fair months can absolutely pump; when it doesn't, you're left with bumpy mid-period lines.

Low Surf Season (October - March)

From spring through summer, the South Atlantic High becomes the dominant player. S/SW energy fades to well under 15% of the spectrum, average periods shorten to 8.4-8.7s, and Cardoso is left with mostly short-period E/ENE/ESE trade windswell. The beach faces south, so those E/SE swells are not ideal - they arrive over-filtered and often cross-shore. Warmer water and up to a third of offshore N/NE winds make it the most comfortable time for a grovel, but the quality ceiling is low.