
Surf Forecasts:
Castelejo surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,011 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Castelejo this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Castelejo in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castelejo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
It’s been a rough patch and it’s going to stay that way for a while. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions right through until the middle of next week. The only real glimmer of hope comes right at the end of the forecast. So, you’ll need some patience.
What we’ve got here is Castelejo, a beach and reef setup that’s very consistent in picking up any swell, but it’s had a shocking run of onshore winds. The water is sitting at 68°, which is a bit colder than we’d expect for this time of year.
We start off with a weak and messy picture. Tuesday the 11th has a bit of swell at 3ft from the NW, but with a short period of 6 seconds and a moderate breeze blowing straight onshore, the energy is weak (102). It’s poor. Wednesday the 12th through Friday the 14th is a similar story – small 3ft swell, cross-onshore winds, and choppy faces. The combined energy creeps up a bit, but the wind keeps ruining it.
Into the weekend, Saturday the 15th sees the swell push up to 6ft from the NW, and the energy kicks into the moderate range (423-434). But the wind is still fresh and cross-onshore, so it’s lumpy and poor. Sunday the 16th brings a 8ft NW swell, with a long period of 9 seconds and a solid energy of 852. The wind is offshore, but the wave comment tells us it’s poor surf. This one is a real tease. The pattern continues into Monday the 17th with a 6ft swell and offshore wind, but the call is “marginal” – maybe the tide is working against us.
Now, the standout. After a full week of nothing, we finally get a window. On Wednesday, August 19th in the morning, the stars almost align. The swell drops to a clean 5ft from the NNW with a period of 9 seconds, and the wind swings to a light breeze from the east, giving us a cross-offshore flow. The energy is a moderate 358, and the conditions are described as clean. This is the best on offer. The waves will be solid and have some power, but for a beach and reef, a 9-second period is decent. It’s not a huge day, but it will be the most fun you’ll have all week. Keep in mind Castelejo can get crowded, and with this being the only good window, expect some company.
After that, it’s back to the struggle. Thursday the 20th has a chance in the morning with a light cross-shore, but the swell is a bit bigger and the wind turns onshore in the afternoon. Then from Friday the 21st all the way through to the end of the period, it’s a wall of strong onshore winds and building swell. By Saturday the 22nd, the swell hits 8ft from the NNW with a very strong energy of 1145, but the wind is a strong breeze straight onshore. That’s a no-go for paddle surfing; that setup is more interesting for the kite crew.
The very last day, Sunday the 23rd, has a massive 8ft swell with a 9-second period and an incredible energy of 1806, but it’s paired with a cross-onshore wind that kills it. If the wind eased, that would be a monster, but it’s not looking like it.
So, plan for Wednesday the 19th. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only real chance for a decent surf in the next 16 days. The rest is a write-off unless you’re desperate.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Sat night, light winds from the NW by Mon morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
60 | 72 | 46 | 135 | 153 | 163 | 132 | 186 | 148 | 124 | 343 | 423 | 434 | 844 | 842 | 688 | 514 | 550 | 430 | 374 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 2:42AM2.75m | 2:58PM3.11m | 3:26AM2.85m | 3:42PM3.20m | 4:08AM2.88m | 4:23PM3.20m | 4:47AM2.85m | 5:03PM3.09m | 5:26AM2.76m | 5:42PM2.90m | 6:04AM2.62m | 6:21PM2.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:32PM0.09m | 8:42AM0.18m | 9:17PM-0.05m | 9:25AM0.08m | 9:59PM-0.10m | 10:06AM0.04m | 10:38PM-0.06m | 10:45AM0.09m | 11:15PM0.06m | 11:23AM0.21m | 11:51PM0.24m | 12:02PM0.38m | 00:27AM0.46m | |||||||
— | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | S 18 | S 18 | SW 16 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | SW 16 |
19 | 40 | 46 | 135 | 153 | 163 | 132 | 186 | 148 | 103 | 105 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 842 | 688 | 514 | 550 | 430 | 10 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 12 | NW 11 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NW 12 | — | S 12 | SE 5 | — | S 18 | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 13 |
15 | 31 | 46 | 23 | 16 | 9 | 36 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | — | — | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 11 | — | — | N 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | S 13 | S 13 |
8 | 3 | 40 | — | — | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 8 |
60 | 72 | — | 37 | 85 | 41 | 40 | 118 | 97 | 124 | 343 | 423 | 434 | 844 | — | — | — | — | — | 374 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 609 | 76 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 65 | 748 | 65 | 65 | 749 | 394 | 11 | 762 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 65 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Algarve | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Castelejo Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Castelejo provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Castelejo can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Castelejo surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Castelejo) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Castelejo may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Castelejo is 25 km (16 miles) from Lagos. If you plan a holiday in The Algarve, look for hotels and other accommodation in Lagos. Lagos has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











