Porto da Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on what's coming.

To be honest, the next 16 days look pretty lean. We've got a long stretch of crummy surf with the wind blowing cross-onshore from the north, and all the swell is short-period windswell. The wave energy is weak to moderate (146 to 367) for most of it. The best we can say is that it ain't gonna be junk forever; forecasts can change. There's a big gap of more than a week before anything interesting shows up.

The first spot on the list, Porto da Cruz (reef), is a beginner-friendly reef that breaks fairly consistently, but the wind is often cross-onshore. Water temp is about 76° with a positive anomaly of 2°, so it's a touch warmer than average for this time of year. The swell is coming from the ENE to NE, but the spot needs a N swell. That mismatch is why it's looking so messy.

Now, for the one real standout, you gotta wait until Saturday, September 12th. On the morning, Porto da Cruz gets a jump in swell to 7ft from the NE (moderate energy: 499), which is getting big for beginners. The wind might be tricky in the morning, but by the afternoon the swell builds to 8ft (strong energy: 741) with a little more period. That's expert territory, and with cross-on winds and questionable tides, it's still a gamble. But it's the best we got.

Then, keep your eye on Tuesday, September 15th. The afternoon is the real gem. Porto da Cruz sees a 5ft NE swell (moderate energy: 438) with glassy conditions and barely a breath of wind. That means clean, smooth waves. The period is short at 7 seconds, so it's windswell, but clean 5ft waves at this spot are a treat. This is the pick of the whole forecast. Crowds are possible, so get there early.

So, bottom line: a whole lot of nothing and choppy days until the second week. The 12th is for the bold, but the afternoon of September 15th is your real ticket to some clean, fun waves. Keep a close watch.

- Rusty

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