Galheta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into the outlook for Galheta.

The next two weeks look like a real mixed bag – a long quiet spell to start, then a window of cleaner conditions before it fades out again. We’ve got some solid south-east groundswell coming through, but you’ve gotta be patient.

Right now, there’s nothing doing. The first few days are flat or junk. Monday the 20th through to Wednesday the 22nd are all a write-off – no real swell, and even when there’s a faint pulse, it’s either too small, onshore, or just plain messy.

Thursday morning the 23rd stays poor, but Thursday afternoon we finally see a little life: a 3ft East-North-East swell with a short 8-second period, and the combined energy is a moderate 127. It’s onshore though, so it’s not worth paddling out for.

Friday the 24th is where things get a bit more interesting. The swell builds to 6ft from the South-South-East, period 9 seconds, and the energy jumps to 529 (moderate to strong). It’s a bit onshore early, but by Friday afternoon the wind drops to a near-calm Easterly (3 mph), with just a light cross-onshore ripple. The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast,” but with those numbers you might score a few fun ones if you pick your tide. The water temp is about average for the time of year – nothing unusual there.

Saturday the 25th is a step back: the swell drops down to 4ft from the South-East, period 8 seconds, and the wind is a cross-onshore 9 mph from the South-West. The energy is a moderate 280, but it’s choppy and not inviting.

Now here’s the standout. Sunday the 26th of July. The swell jumps to 7ft from the East-South-East, period 9 seconds, and the combined energy is a solid 812 (strong). The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the South-West at 9 mph. The guidance says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, and the score is high. At 7ft, this is getting into expert territory – definitely not for beginners. The wind is cross-shore, which will leave some chop, but the energy is there. This is the best on offer, but it’s a big, powerful swell, so you’ll want to be on your game.

Monday the 27th is another good one. The swell holds at 6ft from the East-South-East, period 10 seconds, and the energy is 539 (moderate). The real treat is the morning: glassy conditions with a light West-North-West breeze (3 mph). That’s clean, lined-up surf. The period is 10 seconds – a nice groundswell pulse – and the direction is right in the optimum range for Galheta (South-South-East). This is a top pick for advanced surfers looking for clean, groomed waves.

Tuesday the 28th still has good energy: 5ft from the East-South-East, period 11 seconds, energy 521 (moderate). The morning sees a 12 mph offshore from the North, keeping it clean. The longer period (11 seconds) means better-shaped waves, but also longer lulls between sets. This is still a solid, clean option.

After that, the swell fades fast. Wednesday the 29th has a 3ft East-South-East swell with a light offshore wind, but the energy drops to 225 (weak). Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st are small and weak, with energy down in the double digits – barely surfable. The weekend of August 1st and 2nd is flat, with only a tiny 1ft blip on Sunday the 2nd, and that’s in the morning with glassy conditions but almost no energy (28). Not worth the wetsuit.

So, the big picture: a long, quiet start, then a window from Friday the 24th through to Tuesday the 28th that builds into a strong, powerful swell. The absolute best day for clean, lined-up waves is Monday the 27th with that glassy morning. Sunday the 26th is the biggest, but it’s cross-shore and heavy. After that, it dribbles away to nothing.

Stay loose, keep an eye on the sky, and don’t sleep on that Monday morning.

Rusty.

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