
Surf Forecasts:
Porto da Cruz surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, N swell with 117 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Porto da Cruz this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Porto da Cruz in the next 16 days are 0.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 13s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porto da Cruz over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Porto da Cruz over the next couple of weeks.
Gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. The whole 16-day window is filled with "poor surf conditions" and the wave energy is just not cooperating. There’s not a single standout session in the whole period. The swell is small, the wind is almost always cross-onshore, and the break is fairly exposed but the swell direction never quite lines up for anything decent. It’s a real dry spell.
We start off on Thursday the 6th of August with a tiny 3 ft swell from the north, period around 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a weak 162. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the NNE at 6 mph, keeping things messy. That sets the tone. Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th are similar – tiny 2 ft to 2 ft waves, still cross-onshore, energy dropping as low as 93. Not worth paddling out.
Sunday the 9th gets even smaller, down to 1 ft, and the energy plummets to 51. By Monday the 10th, the swell period drops to 5 seconds – that’s just wind chop, no power. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.
The second week doesn’t offer much hope either. Around Friday the 14th, we see a pulse of 4 ft to 5 ft from the ENE, but the period is a short 6 seconds, energy is still moderate (132-176), and the wind is cross-onshore. Saturday the 15th sees the biggest swell of the whole run at 5 ft to 6 ft from the NE, with energy climbing to 307 – still moderate. But it’s still cross-onshore and choppy. That’s not surfable, that’s a washing machine.
The biggest spike comes on Thursday the 20th of August: a 7 ft swell from the NNE, period of 10 seconds, and a strong energy reading of 715. That’s the most powerful we see. But again, the wind is cross-onshore from the north at 9 mph. For a reef break, that’s going to be bumpy and blown out. That size is getting into expert territory, but the conditions won’t do it justice.
So, what’s the call? Nothing is worth chasing. The whole 16 days is a gap. The break is fairly consistent but the conditions are just not lining up. For this area, a blank run like this is normal when the trade winds lock in from the north. For a reef break, you need cleaner offshore or glassy conditions to make the most of it, and we don’t get that once. If you’re desperate, maybe the 20th at 7 ft from the NNE has some raw power, but it’s going to be a battle with the wind. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite session than a paddle.
Keep an eye on the forecasts, things can change. But for now, I’d leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 20°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | ENE 6 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | WNW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
117 | 83 | 78 | 76 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 58 | 40 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 20 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:56AM1.70m | 8:26PM1.69m | 9:14AM1.66m | 9:55PM1.63m | 10:40AM1.71m | 11:23PM1.69m | 11:56AM1.85m | 00:34AM1.82m | 12:57PM2.04m | 1:30AM1.96m | 1:49PM2.22m | 2:18AM2.08m | 2:35PM2.36m | 3:02AM2.15m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:04PM0.59m | 2:45AM0.58m | 3:31PM0.63m | 4:12AM0.60m | 5:04PM0.55m | 5:35AM0.52m | 6:20PM0.39m | 6:40AM0.39m | 7:20PM0.21m | 7:33AM0.24m | 8:09PM0.06m | 8:19AM0.12m | 8:54PM-0.04m | ||||||||
7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | N 9 | NE 5 | N 8 | NNW 9 | NE 5 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | NW 9 | NW 9 | ENE 5 |
117 | 83 | 78 | 66 | 55 | 57 | 46 | 29 | 18 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 20 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | SSW 12 | N 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | NNW 8 | S 11 | NNW 13 | NNW 7 | NW 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NW 9 |
33 | 14 | 14 | 76 | 56 | 56 | 58 | 58 | 40 | 15 | 24 | 17 | 5 | 22 | 9 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 12 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SSW 12 | NW 6 | S 12 | S 11 | N 14 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 |
9 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | NE 5 | NNW 4 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | — | ENE 5 | — | — |
36 | 47 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 21 | 7 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 14 | 11 | — | — | 9 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 28 | 4 | 22 | 28 | 16 | 16 | 28 | 28 | 16 | 28 | 38 | 38 | 28 | 16 | 16 | 28 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 16 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Madeira | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Porto da Cruz Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Porto da Cruz provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Porto da Cruz can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Porto da Cruz surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Porto da Cruz) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Porto da Cruz may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Porto da Cruz is 14 km (9 miles) from Funchal. If you plan a holiday in Madeira, look for hotels and other accommodation in Funchal. Funchal has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











