Esposende Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Yo, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Esposende. This is a river-mouth setup, exposed to the west, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot when it’s clean. The water’s sitting at about 67°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

Right now, things are a bit rough. The first few days are a write-off for good surf. Monday afternoon has a 5ft west swell, but the wind is howling cross-on from the northwest at 16 mph, making it choppy and messy. Tuesday morning is a little better with a 4ft swell, but it’s still cross-on and the conditions are just marginal. Tuesday afternoon drops to 3ft with onshore wind, not worth paddling out. Wednesday morning sees a 5ft NNW swell, but the period is short at 8 seconds and the cross-shore wind is up, so it’s lumpy. Wednesday afternoon gets worse with a 6ft NW swell and a fresh cross-on breeze – that’s gonna be a messy, lumpy mess. Thursday morning has a 5ft NW swell with a 10-second period, but the light cross-shore breeze keeps it from being clean, and the energy is moderate (579). Thursday afternoon is back to choppy cross-on.

There’s a big gap of poor conditions from Friday morning through to Saturday afternoon. Friday morning has a tiny 2ft swell, and Friday afternoon is a 3ft NW swell with a fresh cross-on breeze – not good. Saturday morning offers a 2ft WNW swell, and the wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but the swell is tiny and energy is weak (144). Saturday afternoon is back to choppy cross-on.

Now, Sunday morning the 13th looks a bit more promising. There’s a 5ft NW swell, period of 12 seconds, so it’s a groundswell with some push. The wind is light cross-shore, so it’s only slightly rippled, and the energy is strong (689). It’s still a marginal call because of the tide, but it’s the best we’ve seen for a few days. The swell is 5ft, so it’s okay for most surfers, but beginners might find it a bit much.

The real standout, though, is Monday morning on the 14th. We’ve got a 4ft NW swell, period of 11 seconds, and the wind is offshore from the ENE at 6 mph. That’s clean, glassy conditions, and the energy is moderate (354). This is the best window for a proper session at Esposende in the first week – the offshore wind will groom the river mouth nicely.

Looking further out, the second week has some real gems. Wednesday morning the 16th is glassy with a 3ft WNW swell, but it’s only ordinary. Thursday morning the 17th is a standout: glassy conditions, 3ft WNW swell, and the energy is building (244). Friday morning the 18th is even better – glassy with a 5ft NW swell, energy at 382. That’s a solid, clean session. Saturday morning the 19th is also glassy with a 5ft NW swell, energy at 304. Then Monday morning the 21st is a big one: 5ft NW swell, glassy, with energy at 663 – that’s a powerful, clean groundswell. Tuesday morning the 22nd is similar, 6ft NW swell, glassy, energy at 509. These last two mornings are the highlight of the whole forecast. The swell is 5ft to 6ft, which is a bit strong for beginners, but good for intermediate and up. The glassy wind and long period make for proper waves, but remember, on a river mouth, a long-period swell can sometimes break too straight, so watch the shape.

Crowds at Esposende are “sometimes” an issue, so on those standout mornings, especially the glassy ones, expect a few other locals to be in the water.

Overall, the first week is a slow grind with only a few windows, but Monday morning the 14th is your best bet early. The second week, particularly the mornings of the 21st and 22nd, looks like the real deal – glassy, solid groundswell, and good energy. Keep an eye on that forecast, as long-range calls can shift.

Rusty.

Read more