Surf Forecasts:
Castelejo surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, NW swell with 766 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with NW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Castelejo this week:
The surf forecast for Castelejo over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Castelejo in the next 16 days are 2.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castelejo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Grab a coffee, because it’s gonna be a flat, frustrating stretch for the most part. We’re looking at a real famine in the surf department for the next two weeks and change.
The opening days are a complete write-off. We’ve got a very consistent, exposed beach and reef set-up at Castelejo (West Coast) but the wind is just hammering it. Through Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st, we’re looking at fresh cross-onshore breezes in the 15 to 22 mph range, with weak swell around the 3 to 4 ft mark. That’s a recipe for choppy, lumpy, poor surf. The combined energy is weak too, barely scraping into the double digits (242, 318, 323). It’s not surf, it’s just a mess. The first few days of September aren’t any better, with moderate energy in the 200s (365, 247) and more lumpy conditions.
There’s a tease mid-week. On the morning of Thursday the 3rd, it goes glassy as the wind drops to next to nothing. There’ll be a few clean little 4 ft waves with a period of 7 seconds, but that’s weak, short-period stuff and the energy is still weak (130). It’s surfable, but you’d be lying if you said it was good. The water’s a bit colder than normal for the time of year, sitting at about 68°, so it’s a touch fresh.
Friday the 4th sees a brief bump in size to 4 ft, but it’s cross-on and lumpy, then the afternoon drops to a tiny 2 ft, even though the period jumps to 13 seconds. That’s a real kick in the teeth.
The only real window we get is on Saturday the 5th. The morning is still marginal, but the afternoon shapes up nicely. The wind goes completely calm and glassy, and we’re looking at a clean 5 ft of west-northwest swell with a 10-second period. The energy climbs to a moderate 495. This is the best on offer by a long shot. It’s not going to be a classic, but it’s clean, and after this run, clean is king. However, be aware this is an exposed spot, and even with a glassy surface, those long-period swells can make a beach break close out. It might be a bit full for the beginners, but it’s the one to paddle out for.
Then the plug gets pulled. From Sunday the 6th all the way through the 14th, it’s a desert. The swell drops, the wind comes back from the north and northwest in force, and everything gets lumpy and blown out. The combined energy is mostly weak, dipping as low as 97, and the wave heights are in the 2 ft to 6 ft range, but it’s all junky. There’s a brief moment on the 10th with a bit more size (6 ft) but the period is short at 8 seconds, the wind is fresh, and it’s poor. This entire second week is a write-off. If you see anything on the charts for the 12th or 13th, don’t get excited, it’s still junk.
It’s a tough outlook. This spot is very consistent, which means it doesn’t tend to stay this flat and messy for long. So keep an eye on the charts, because with this much consistency, it should change. But for now, Saturday afternoon is the only ticket you have. I’ll be there, hoping for a couple of clean ones. Until next time, keep your board waxed and your head up.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 13 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
196 | 216 | 188 | 152 | 145 | 499 | 626 | 537 | 504 | 356 | 238 | 164 | 122 | 111 | 93 | 167 | 178 | 250 | 449 | 433 | 334 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:31PM2.97m | 4:51AM2.77m | 5:05PM2.89m | 5:26AM2.71m | 5:43PM2.75m | 6:06AM2.60m | 6:27PM2.56m | 6:53AM2.45m | 7:22PM2.33m | 7:54AM2.29m | 8:37PM2.14m | 9:19AM2.20m | 10:17PM2.07m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:16AM0.16m | 10:41PM0.10m | 10:50AM0.19m | 11:14PM0.18m | 11:28AM0.27m | 11:51PM0.31m | 12:10PM0.41m | 00:34AM0.50m | 1:01PM0.59m | 1:28AM0.71m | 2:10PM0.77m | 2:45AM0.88m | 3:48PM0.84m | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
— | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | W 13 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 9 | NW 7 | NW 13 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 16 | NW 10 |
196 | 3 | 188 | 152 | 135 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 96 | 122 | 111 | 26 | 167 | 178 | 250 | 449 | 62 | 334 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NW 11 | SW 16 | — | — | — | E 5 | — | NNW 7 | SE 6 | WNW 10 | ESE 6 | NW 15 | WNW 8 | S 13 | NW 18 | S 12 | NW 13 |
— | — | 14 | 24 | 33 | 10 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 73 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 33 | 46 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 140 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | ESE 7 | SW 13 | ESE 6 | SE 5 | SW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SE 12 |
— | — | — | 12 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | NW 8 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | — | — | NNW 7 | — | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 10 | — |
46 | 216 | 170 | 130 | 145 | 499 | 626 | 537 | 504 | 356 | 238 | 164 | — | — | 93 | — | 127 | 211 | 93 | 433 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 613 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 46 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 46 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
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.











