Praia da Saudade - surf spot statistics

Praia da Saudade in Brazil is primarily a windswell-dominated spot, with ground swells making up a smaller portion of the swell mix. The best months for surfing here are generally from May to September, when there’s a higher percentage of ground swell (peaking at 24% in May) and slightly better wind conditions. However, the mean swell size remains modest throughout the year, averaging around 0.7m to 0.9m, which suggests smaller, more forgiving waves suited for beginners or longboarders rather than powerful, hollow breaks. Wind conditions are consistently challenging, with bad winds (onshore or cross-shore) dominating 70% to 80% of the time across all months, though June stands out as having the most favorable wind conditions (32% good winds). Overall, the surf here is best when local windswell combines with occasional ground swell, particularly in late autumn and early winter (May-June), but surfers should expect variable wind quality and mostly small to medium-sized waves year-round. If clean conditions align, mid-year offers the most reliable opportunities, but it’s not a high-performance spot.

December at Praia da Saudade offers generally small but rideable surf, averaging 0.8m with a decent period of 7.6s. The swell is predominantly from the east (E 51.92%, ESE 24.33%, ENE 10.66%), with the majority of waves in the 0.5-1.5m range (E and ESE directions contribute 63.62% of waves in this bracket). While larger sets over 1.5m are rare (only 2.48% of waves), the conditions are consistent enough for performance surfing when wind aligns. Offshore winds (ideal for surfing) occur just 20% of the time, predominantly from westerly directions (W to NNW), but easterly winds (ENE to SE) frequently bring onshore chop at 10-30kph (40.6% occurrence). Expect mostly small, mellow waves with occasional shoulder-high peaks—best suited for longboarding or progression when winds cooperate. Windswell influence is minimal, but morning sessions often provide cleaner conditions before afternoon breezes.