
Surf Forecasts:
Porto da Cruz surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 1AM (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 1AM. 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 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (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 on the menu for our local stretch.
It's a quiet start. We're looking at a long stretch of small, messy waves at Porto da Cruz. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off, with tiny swells and cross-onshore winds messing up what little there is. The water is sitting at 75°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the swims will be nice.
The real story starts to build around the 14th of August. The swell is going to push up, but the wind is a letdown. For the weekend of the 14th and 15th, we’ve got a solid pulse of swell, around 6ft to 7ft from the NE, but the wind is ripping from the N and NNE at 9 to 12 mph, cross-onshore the whole time. The combined energy of all swells directed here is strong (384-466), meaning there’s plenty of power in the water, but it’s going to be a choppy, blown-out mess. This is a reef break, so it can handle a bit of size, but with that wind, it's going to be ugly. That setup honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The best chance for a surf comes on Monday the 17th. The morning looks like the pick. We’ve got 6ft from the NNE, the wind is dropping right off to a light 3 mph onshore from the NE. The combined energy is a strong 432. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it won't be a classic groundswell, but with that wind dropping to near glassy, Porto da Cruz could actually have some clean, rolling lines. It’s a beginner-friendly reef break, but 6ft is a bit much for absolute beginners. The afternoon sees the wind pick up again, so get on it early.
Beyond that, the Tuesday the 18th has similar size, 6ft, but the wind is back to cross-onshore, so it’s a no-go.
So, the standout is the morning of Monday the 17th. It’s not a classic, but it’s the only window where the wind drops enough to give us clean waves. The crowds are likely there, as it's often a busy spot. Get in the water early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | N 8 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | ENE 6 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 61 | 74 | 117 | 117 | 81 | 78 | 85 | 96 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 62 | 42 | 25 | 13 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:44PM2.04m | 6:10AM1.85m | 6:26PM1.93m | 6:57AM1.78m | 7:18PM1.80m | 7:56AM1.70m | 8:26PM1.69m | 9:14AM1.66m | 9:55PM1.63m | 10:40AM1.71m | 11:23PM1.69m | 11:56AM1.85m | 00:34AM1.82m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:58PM0.29m | 12:09PM0.40m | 00:41AM0.38m | 12:59PM0.50m | 1:34AM0.49m | 2:04PM0.59m | 2:45AM0.58m | 3:31PM0.63m | 4:12AM0.60m | 5:04PM0.55m | 5:35AM0.52m | 6:20PM0.39m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 9:04 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 21 |
Feels °C | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 23 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NE 3 | SSW 12 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 |
33 | 16 | 18 | 3 | 27 | 61 | 74 | 117 | 117 | 81 | 78 | 76 | 96 | 69 | 40 | 39 | 62 | 42 | 25 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | NNW 7 | SSW 12 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | S 13 | E 5 | E 5 | NNE 7 |
12 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 5 | 28 | 25 | 9 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 76 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NNE 6 | N 8 | WNW 8 | N 8 | WNW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 |
4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 14 | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 5 | NE 4 | ENE 3 | NE 3 | ENE 3 | E 5 | E 6 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | NNE 7 | N 4 | NE 4 |
— | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 26 | 34 | 57 | 85 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 42 | 13 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 38 |
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.











