Cardoso - surf spot statistics

Cardoso in Brazil offers surfable waves year-round, with conditions varying significantly across seasons. The best months for surfing are typically from April to September, when ground swell percentages increase, wind conditions stabilize slightly, and swell size peaks. During this period, ground swell contributions range from 30% to 43%, providing better-quality, more consistent waves compared to wind swells, which dominate the rest of the year. May stands out with the highest ground swell influence (43%) and a mean swell size of 2.0m, though wind conditions remain challenging with only 20% good wind days. September sees the largest swells (2.2m), but poor wind conditions (89% bad winds) can be limiting. From October to March, wind swells overwhelmingly dominate (79–84%), and while the waves remain rideable, they tend to be less clean and smaller (1.6–1.9m). Wind conditions are generally unfavorable throughout the year, with good wind days rarely exceeding 20%. Surfers looking for the best compromise should target April to July, where ground swells are decent (35–42%), and wind conditions, though still poor, are slightly less severe than later in the season. The spot is best suited for experienced surfers who can handle onshore winds and mixed swell conditions.

February at Cardoso offers surfable conditions with an average swell height of 1.6m and a decent period of 8.7s, providing consistent, manageable waves. The swell direction is predominantly from the east to southeast, with the highest frequency of rideable waves (1-2.5m) coming from ENE to S directions. The most consistent wave heights fall in the 1-2m range, with occasional larger sets up to 2.5m, particularly from the S and SSE. Wind conditions are variable, but only 19% of the time are ideal for surfing—typically light offshore or sideshore winds from the west-northwest through north-northeast. However, the predominant winds are from the northeast to southeast, often blowing at moderate speeds (10-30kph), which can create choppy or cross-shore conditions. Surfers should target early mornings when winds are lighter or wait for days with favorable wind shifts to maximize clean conditions. Overall, February delivers workable waves, but wind luck plays a key role in scoring the best sessions.