Praia da Cal - surf spot statistics

Praia da Cal in Brazil offers moderately consistent surf conditions year-round, though the best months for surfers typically align with cleaner ground swells and more favorable winds. The swell data shows a dominance of wind swells throughout the year, but ground swells see a notable increase from March to August, peaking in May and June at 38%. During these months, the mean swell size remains steady around 1.5m, providing decent wave energy without being overly large. Wind conditions are less than ideal overall, with the highest chance of good winds occurring from May to July (28-29% favorable). However, even then, bad winds prevail 70-72% of the time, which can create choppy conditions. The swell size gradually increases from late summer into early autumn (September peaks at 1.7m), but wind conditions deteriorate significantly, with September to November seeing the worst wind ratios. December through February bring smaller swells (1.3-1.4m) and the highest wind swell influence (85-87%), making these months less desirable for quality waves. For surfers prioritizing cleaner waves, the window from April to August offers the best balance of ground swell presence and slightly improved wind chances, though offshore breezes remain rare. July and August stand out with decent ground swell persistence (26-30%) and manageable swell sizes (1.5-1.6m), but persistent onshore winds can still be an issue. Ultimately, mid-year months provide the most reliable surf, even if conditions aren't perfect, while the rest of the year tends to be either too windswell-dependent or plagued by poor winds.

March at Praia da Cal offers consistent surf with an average swell height of 1.4m and a solid period of 9.0s, producing well-organized waves. The swell primarily comes from the E to SSE, with the majority of waves in the 1-1.5m range (around 10% frequency from E/ESE/SSE) and occasional larger sets up to 2.5m when the SE/SSE swell dominates. Wind conditions are favorable for surfing only 24% of the time, with the best scenarios being light offshore winds (NNE to ENE) at 10-20kph (4-5% frequency). However, moderate ENE to NE winds (10-30kph) are more common (10-12% combined), which can create sideshore chop. Stronger NNE to NE winds (over 20kph) occur about 8% of the time and may degrade conditions. Expect mostly rideable waves, but wind quality is inconsistent—early mornings often provide the cleanest sessions before onshore tendencies develop. Intermediate to advanced surfers will find the most opportunities, especially when SSE swells align with lighter winds for longer, lined-up waves.