Porto da Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into the outlook for Porto da Cruz. This is a reef break that’s fairly consistent, but it’s a beginner spot that’s only fairly exposed to the swell. It likes the swell from the north, which is what we’ve got on the way. The water is sitting at 77°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 4° above average, so you can leave the thick suit at home.

Right now, and for the first several days, it’s a bit of a write-off. The surf is small, the wind is cross-onshore, and the forecast keeps saying "poor surf conditions." We’re looking at tiny waves, mostly 1.0ft to 3ft, with a weak combined energy (53 to 90). Not worth paddling out for. That run of poor conditions stretches all the way from the start through the 16th of August. There’s a bit of a bump on the 15th with 5ft to 6ft swell, but it’s still choppy and messy.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday afternoon, the 18th of August. The wind drops right off, turning glassy, and we’ve got a 6ft swell from the north-northeast. The energy is moderate (497) and the period is a solid 9 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell building. The morning of the 19th looks even better – glassy conditions with a 6ft swell from the same direction. This is the best on offer in the whole window. The waves will be clean and the reef will be working. It’s a beginner spot, so 6ft to 6ft is a fun size, not too intimidating.

After that, things get a bit mixed. The 20th and 21st have some decent swell, 7ft to 8ft, but the wind shifts back to cross-shore or cross-onshore, and the energy climbs into the strong range (630 to 1080). The waves will be there, but it’ll be a bit choppy and hard to read. By Saturday, the 22nd of August, the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, hitting 10ft. That’s expert territory, and with 10-second period and cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be a beast. The energy is very strong (2607), but it’s not a day for a beginner.

The last week of the outlook goes quiet again. Swell drops back under 7ft, but the wind stays onshore, and the surf is labelled “poor.” The 26th has a 5ft swell with a 10-second period, but the wind is howling at 12 mph from the north-northeast, making it messy.

So, to sum it up: the first two weeks are mostly a bust. The one standout is the 18th afternoon and the 19th morning. That’s your window for clean, fun waves at Porto da Cruz. Don’t hold your breath for the rest.

Rusty

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