Porto da Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day window for Porto da Cruz, but to be straight with you, it’s a long, flat stretch. This is a reef break that's fairly consistent, but the conditions are just not lining up for a good paddle. The water is sitting at about 76°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing strange there.

The outlook starts on Thursday, September 3rd, with a weak, short-period swell from the NE at about 4ft. The wind is cross-on from the north at 6 mph, and the combined energy is a weak 148. It’s messy, with small wind ripples, and the wave comment says "poor surf conditions." This sets the tone for the first week. Friday and Saturday are even smaller – dropping to 3ft – with the same onshore wind. The energy dips to around 62, so it’s really not worth getting wet.

There’s a shift on Sunday, September 6th. The swell drops to 2ft, but the period jumps to 13 seconds, which is a long-period groundswell. The energy climbs to 224 (moderate), but the wind is still a moderate cross-on from the north at 12 mph. Long-period swell on a reef with onshore wind is frustrating – it’ll be lumpy and hard to read. Not the one.

The next few days, from Monday, September 7th through to Wednesday, September 9th, see the swell building to 7ft from the NE. The energy gets strong, hitting 555 on Tuesday afternoon. But the wind is still moderate cross-on or onshore, and the period is short at 7 seconds. That’s a recipe for a choppy, wonky mess. For a beginner spot, this is too big, and for experts, the short period kills it.

The second week is more of the same. From Thursday, September 10th, we see the swell drop back to 5ft, with NE wind and a short period. The energy is moderate. There’s a brief moment on Friday, September 11th, with a 12-second period swell from the north, but the wind switches to light cross-on. The wave comment is still "poor." The longer period is nice in theory, but the wind and direction are off.

The final days from the 15th to the 18th see the swell hanging around 5ft to 6ft, with a mix of moderate cross-on winds. The energy picks up to 512 on the 18th, but again, the wind is onshore and the period is short. There’s no standout session here. The "poor surf conditions" label is a constant across the whole forecast.

Given the persistent onshore wind and short-period swell, this setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The blank run is pretty normal for this area when the wind doesn't play ball. Don't hold your breath – forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a no-go.

Rusty.

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