Porto da Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what we've got cooking on the north coast.

To be straight with you, the first half of this forecast is a grind. Lots of wind blowing from the wrong direction, small and weak swell. It's not a total washout, but you'll have to play the waiting game for the second week.

Right now and through this week, Porto da Cruz is dealing with short-period windswell coming from the northeast and east-northeast. Swell heights are 3 to 6 feet, but the period is a short 6 to 8 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore from the north or north-northeast at 6 to 15 mph. The surface is choppy, and conditions are poor. Combined energy is in the weak to moderate range (150 to 257). Not worth paddling out for.

Saturday the 19th looks similar with cross-onshore winds and a messy 6 foot northeast swell. The water is 25°, a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but that doesn't help the waves.

Sunday the 20th drops to 3 feet, but there's a longer period NNW groundswell at 13 seconds in the morning and 12 seconds in the afternoon. Energy bumps to 359 and 302, but the wind is still cross-onshore. It's only marginal.

Then we have a stretch from Monday the 21st to the 22nd with small east-northeast swell around 3 feet. The one bright spot is Tuesday morning the 22nd. The wind goes glassy from the north-northeast at only 3 mph. Swell holds at 3 feet from the east-northeast with a moderate 270 combined energy. It’s proper small, but it’s the cleanest you'll see in the whole outlook. The spot is fairly consistent, but expect some company.

By Wednesday the 23rd, a longer period northwest swell arrives at 2 feet with 13 seconds. Wind goes light and shifts, turning glassy in the afternoon. Small and smooth.

From Thursday the 24th, conditions remain glassy with small 3 foot east-northeast swell, but it's pretty ordinary and unexciting.

Then around Saturday the 26th, a bigger northwest swell pushes in at 4 to 4 feet with 14 to 15 second periods and combined energy in the strong range (497 to 601). But the wind is cross-onshore from the north-northeast at 9 mph – that’ll chop it up, and the data calls it poor surf. This groundswell would be better off at a point or reef break.

Finally, on Monday the 29th, a very long period northwest-northwest swell shows up at 2 to 3 feet with a massive 19 second period! Energy is strong at 705 to 824. The wind is light but onshore or cross-onshore. It's marginal, not clean, but that period is a beast for such a small wave height.

If you've got a flexible schedule, the standout is Tuesday morning, September 22nd at Porto da Cruz. It's small – only 3 feet – but with glassy conditions, it will be the most fun you'll get in this whole outlook. For the long-range crew, keep an eye on Monday the 29th's long period groundswell. It’s promising but far out, so don't book the trip just yet.

Rusty.

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