Castelejo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Castelejo’s got cooking over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but we’ll find the windows.

We’re starting off with a real low point. Saturday the 12th doesn’t offer a single decent wave worth paddling for. The water is sitting at a very unusual 65°, which is over three degrees colder than what’s normal for this time of year – so dig out the thickest wetsuit you’ve got if you’re going in. The swell is a weak, short-period windswell from the NNW at 3 ft with a measly 7-second period, and the wind is junk. It’s a write-off.

There’s a bit of a pulse coming in on Sunday the 13th. The morning sees a clean-ish cross-offshore wind, but the swell is tiny at 2 ft NW, though it does have some nice long-period energy (14 seconds). The combined energy is low (177). The afternoon gets a bit better: 4 ft NW, period 13 seconds, and a light cross-shore wind. It’s not great, but it’s surfable – just very ordinary.

Monday the 14th morning is where we get our first real look. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NE, and we’ve got a 4 ft NW swell running with a 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate (332). It’s still small, but the conditions will be clean. The afternoon turns onshore, so catch the morning session.

Tuesday the 15th is a step back, with increasing onshore wind and messy surf. Wednesday the 16th gets a big boost in size, but it’s ugly. The swell jumps to 8 ft NW (8-9 seconds), which is too big and powerful for beginners, but the wind is a strong onshore breeze that will chop it to pieces. That’s a kite-surfing setup if I’ve ever seen one, not one for a paddle board.

Thursday the 17th is still blown out with 8 ft to 7 ft swells and strong cross-onshore winds, just a mess.

Now, Friday the 18th is a standout. We get a clean cross-offshore easterly wind and a 6 ft swell from the NNW with a 10-second period. The combined energy is strong (514). This is the best it’s looked all week. The surf will be solid, clean, and powerful. This is the one to circle.

Saturday the 19th morning is a contender. We get glassy conditions with a 3 ft NW groundswell that has a very long 14-second period. The combined energy is pumping hard (804). That long period will make the waves at Castelejo (Portugal) fat and lined up, perfect for the reef sections. It’s a beautiful, mellow morning for a soul session. The afternoon gets onshore again.

Sunday the 20th afternoon is tidy – a clean 5 ft NW swell (11 seconds) with a nice cross-offshore wind from the ESE.

Now, looking further ahead, Monday the 21st morning is another absolute standout. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the East, and the swell is a solid 5 ft from the NW with a very long 14-second period. The combined energy is massive (1113). This is expert-level power and size, but for the experienced crew, it’ll be firing with clean lines. The afternoon gets gusty.

After that, the end of the window fades out. Tuesday the 22nd afternoon has a solid offshore wind (SE 12 mph) and a 4 ft NW swell, but by Wednesday and Thursday it drops off to small, weak swells. Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th offer some small, clean glassy mornings but the swell is barely there.

All in all, the best bets are Friday the 18th for solid, clean power and Monday the 21st for a proper, long-period groundswell that will have the reef working. The glassy Saturday the 14th morning is a lovely, mellow option too. The rest is hit or miss with a lot of onshore wind. The water is unseasonably cold right now, so don’t get caught out without the right rubber.

Rusty.

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