Porto Batel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – the next 16 days at Porto Batel (Madeira) are a real test of patience. There’s a big gap of nothing worthwhile until the 10th of July, and even then it’s grim. The water’s about average for this time of year, nothing unusual. Let’s walk through it.

Friday the 10th starts off with a tiny 2-foot swell from the WNW, period around 9 seconds. The wind is cross-off from the NNW, so the surf is clean, but the energy is weak (65). The wave comment says it all: poor surf conditions. Not worth paddling out.
Saturday the 11th is a bit of a tease. The morning has a 2-foot NW swell with a period of 11 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell but the energy is still low (96). The wind is light cross-off, so it’s clean, but the wave comment calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The afternoon gets a bit more size (3 feet) but the wind swings cross-on and it’s choppy. No go.
Sunday the 12th through to Thursday the 17th is a dead zone. Swell stays under 2 feet, mostly onshore or cross-on wind, and the energy never cracks 100. Every session is flagged as poor surf conditions. You’re better off staying dry.

Now, Friday the 17th afternoon sees a small bump: 2 feet from the W, period 7 seconds, but the wind is cross-off. It’s clean, but the energy is only 58. Still poor.
Saturday the 18th is similar – tiny, clean, but no power.

Finally, things get interesting on Sunday the 19th. The morning sees a 5-foot swell from the NNW, period 7 seconds, with cross-off wind. The energy jumps to 217 (moderate). The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” It’s a step up, but at 5 feet it’s not too big for intermediates, and the clean conditions are a plus. Still, the period is short, so don’t expect much shape.
Monday the 20th is the standout of the whole period. The swell builds to 6 feet from the NNW, period 8 seconds, with cross-off wind. Energy hits 338 (moderate). Again, “marginal” is the word, but this is the biggest, cleanest swell we’ve seen. For an intermediate, it’s a fun size – not too big, not too small. The direction (NNW) is slightly off the optimum W, but the cross-off wind will keep it clean. Crowds are “sometimes” a factor here, so you might have some company.
Tuesday the 21st morning pushes to 6 feet from the NNW, period 8 seconds, with light cross-shore wind. Energy is 497 (moderate). But the afternoon turns cross-on and choppy. The morning session is the best call for the week, but it’s still “marginal.”

From Wednesday the 22nd onward, it drops off. Swell stays around 5 feet to 6 feet, but the wind is mostly onshore or cross-on, and the wave comment is consistently “poor.” The final days, the 24th and 25th, drop to 0.7 feet and 1 foot – tiny and clean, but not worth a wet suit.

The highlight is Monday the 20th morning: 6 feet, NNW, clean cross-off wind, moderate energy (338). That’s the one to pencil in. The rest is a long wait for a very short window.

Rusty.

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