Porto da Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ll level with you right off the bat – this outlook for Porto da Cruz is a tough one. We’re staring at a long, dry spell with barely a whisper of surf that’s worth paddling out for.

The first sign of any rideable waves doesn’t show up until Thursday the 30th of July. That’s almost a full week of nothing from the start of the period. Even then, what we get is tiny. The 30th offers 2ft from the ENE with a weak 7-second period, and the combined swell energy is only 64 – that’s weak as dishwater. The only saving grace is that the wind goes glassy from the NNW, so the surface will be clean. But honestly, you’re looking at knee-high dribble.

Friday the 31st of July is more of the same, with tiny 1ft from the WNW. A 9-second period is a bit longer, suggesting a little more push, but with combined energy at 66 and 69, you're still on a foamie. At least it’s glassy again with calm to light SE winds. For a beginner, this is about as good as it gets in the window – small, clean, and manageable.

We get another real gap after that. Nothing worth noting on the 1st of August, and the 2nd brings a jump in swell size to 4ft from the NNW with a longer 10-second period, but the combined energy hits 256. Problem is, the wind is a light cross-onshore from the N, putting a little bump on it. The guidance tells me this spot needs an offshore from the SW to really clean up, so the wind direction is working against us. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great.

The only date that shows a pulse of real energy is Monday the 3rd of August. The morning sees 6ft from the N with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a massive 1189, which is strong wave energy. This is the standout of the whole forecast. But there’s a catch – the wind is a light cross-onshore from the N. For a reef break like Porto da Cruz, that’s not ideal, and the wave comment calls it “marginal.” 6ft is getting solid and might be getting too big for beginners. The swell direction is N, and the optimum for this break is N, so that part is a match.

From there, the energy drops back off. The 4th of August has 6ft from the NNE but with a short 7-second period and light onshore winds – not great shape. The rest of the week into the 8th of August is all cross-onshore winds and mediocre 3ft to 5ft surf from the NNE and NE with combined energy in the 300 to 400 range, which is moderate. The winds are from the N and NNE, which are cross-onshore to onshore for this break. It'll be choppy and unappealing for a paddle surfer. Honestly, the setup after the 3rd looks more interesting for a kite surfer than someone with a shortboard.

To sum it up: there’s a long wait. If you’re a beginner or just want a splash, the last days of July offer clean but tiny waves. The real power comes on Monday the 3rd of August with that 6ft N swell, but the wind isn’t your friend. After that, it’s a write-off. Keep an eye on the forecast, because it can't stay this poor forever.

Rusty.

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