Porto da Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for Porto da Cruz is mostly a write-off. We’ve got a reef break that’s fairly consistent, but the wind and swell combo just aren’t playing ball for the vast majority of the period. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Monday the 21st of September, and even then it’s not exactly pumping. The whole run before that is plagued by poor surf conditions—cross-onshore winds from the north and northeast, choppy surfaces, and swell that’s either too small or too messy. From Monday the 14th all the way through to Sunday the 20th, the energy is weak to moderate, with the combined swell energy sitting between 122 and 1358, but the quality is just not there. We get a bit of a spike in size on the 18th and 19th, with swell up to 8ft, but that north wind is ruining it. That size is only for the more experienced crew anyway.

Now, Monday the 21st is where it gets interesting. The wind swings to an offshore direction or goes glassy, and the reef cleans right up. On Monday morning, we’ve got a 3ft swell from the NNW with a very long period of 15 seconds—that’s a groundswell, full of energy, and it’s glassy conditions. The combined energy hits 525, which is moderate, but that clean face makes it worthwhile. This kind of long-period swell at a reef break like Porto da Cruz can produce some nice, lined-up waves, though it might not be the biggest. The morning is the standout: clear skies, glassy water, and that NNW groundswell. Afternoon on the 21st is also glassy with a 4ft swell from the NNW and a period of 14 seconds, combined energy of 661. That’s the best on offer. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Tuesday the 22nd morning is also glassy again, with a 3ft NNW swell at 13 seconds and combined energy of 386. It’s clean but a touch smaller. After that, the conditions start to slip again. Wednesday morning the 23rd is glassy but the swell drops to 2ft with an 11-second period; it’s surfable but very ordinary.

From Thursday the 24th onward, it’s back to poor conditions with cross-onshore winds and choppy water right through to the end of the period on Tuesday the 29th of September. The swell sticks around in the 2ft to 4ft range, but the wind is just not kind. There’s a bit of energy around the 25th and 27th, but with the poor wind, it’s not worth paddling out.

So, the standout window is Monday the 21st of September and Tuesday the 22nd of September, with Tuesday morning being the cleanest, small-wave option. If you can only pick one, Monday morning the 21st is the call—that glassy, long-period groundswell on the reef is your best bet. Remember, these long-range calls are promising but less certain as we get into the second week. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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