Porto da Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for Porto da Cruz over the next couple of weeks.

First up, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough start. For the first week, from Thursday the 30th of July right through until Wednesday the 5th of August, the surf is pretty much a non-event. You’ll see tiny waves, mostly under 3 ft, with weak, short-period windswell. The energy is just not there, with the combined swell energy sitting in the low double digits to barely over 100 (15 to 148). The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the forecast is calling it “poor surf conditions” across the board. There’s a stretch of almost a week there where you’d be better off leaving the board in the car.

Then we finally get a little glimmer on Thursday the 6th of August. The morning shows some 2 ft swell from the north, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is still low at 96, but the wind goes glassy, from the southeast at just 3 mph. That’s a rare moment of clean conditions. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there. It’s not a standout by any means, but it’s the first surfable window in the whole forecast. We’ll take it.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums for a few more days. The swell stays small and the wind stays messy through to Tuesday the 11th of August.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The real action kicks off in the second week. On Wednesday the 12th of August, the swell starts to build. By the morning, we’ve got 5 ft from the north-northeast, with a period of 6 seconds. The combined swell energy jumps to 194 (moderate). The wind is cross-shore from the north-northwest at 9 mph, which is better than onshore. It’s still classified as “poor surf conditions,” but the size is there.

The standout window, and the only one I’d get excited about, is Thursday the 13th of August. The morning shows 6 ft of north-northeast swell, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined swell energy is a strong 574. The wind is cross-shore from the north-northwest at 9 mph, creating a gentle cross-shore chop. This is a solid, powerful swell for Porto da Cruz, and it’s the biggest and most energetic of the whole forecast. That north-northeast direction is a good match for the break’s optimum angle. The water temperature is still about average. This is a day for experienced surfers who know the reef – anything over 5 ft can be a handful, and at 6 ft, it’s pushing into expert territory. The crowds are listed as “often,” so expect company.

The next day, Friday the 14th of August, the swell holds at 6 ft from the north-northeast, with a period of 8 seconds and a combined energy of 370. The wind is cross-shore again. It’s a marginal call, but still a solid wave if you’re patient.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off. The best and only true standout is Thursday the 13th of August, with that 6 ft north-northeast groundswell and strong energy. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only time the ocean really wakes up. Get out there if you’re keen.

Rusty.

Read more