Porto da Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m lookin’ at Porto da Cruz for the next couple weeks, and I gotta tell ya, mate – it’s gonna be a quiet stretch. The first real opportunity to paddle out doesn’t show up until Sunday morning, the 30th of August, and even then, it’s a tough start.

We kick off with some small, weak waves. On that Sunday morning, you’re looking at a small 3ft swell from the north, with a pretty average period of 8 seconds. Combined energy is only 158 – that’s weak sauce. The wind is cross-onshore from the NNE at 9 mph, which’ll leave it a bit choppy. The water is sittin’ around 76°, which is about average for this time of year.

Honestly, the whole first week is a bit of a struggle. Monday the 31st through Wednesday the 2nd of September sees the swell bump up a little – 4ft to 6ft – but the period stays short (6-7 seconds), and that cross-onshore wind just won’t let up. It’s mostly coming from the north or north-northeast, and it’s keepin’ the surface messy. The energy stays in that moderate range (143 to 346), but the quality’s just not there. The wave comment says it all – “poor surf conditions” for every single session.

Thursday the 3rd through Saturday the 5th of September is more of the same. Small swell, 4ft to 5ft, still short period, and still that cross-onshore breeze. Saturday morning sees a slight drop in wind to 6 mph from the north, so it’s a little less choppy, but the swell’s weak and not really lining up. Porto da Cruz is a reef break – it needs something with a bit more push and the right direction to get going. The optimum direction here is north, and we do get north swells, but the period is too short to make it worthwhile. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, so if you’re just messing around on a foamie, you could have a splash, but for any real ride, it ain’t happening.

We roll into Sunday the 6th of September. Morning has a 4ft NE swell (period 7 seconds) – still “poor.” But in the afternoon, something interesting pops. The swell drops to 2ft, but the period jumps to 12 seconds from the NNW. Combined energy is 276 – moderate. That longer period is a groundswell, which means better-shaped waves, more energy, and longer lulls between sets. It’s a little more promising, but the size is tiny. This is a reef, and 2ft of long-period groundswell might fizzle out at low tide, but it could offer a few clean lines if you’re patient. The wind is still cross-onshore though, so it’s not ideal.

Monday the 7th sees a slight improvement. Morning has 3ft from the NNE with 8-second period, wind down to 6 mph from the north – light cross-onshore, so it’s only a bit bumpy. Afternoon is better: 2ft from the north with 11-second period – that’s proper groundswell again – and the wind is onshore from the NNE at 6 mph. It’s not clean, but that longer period could wrap in a little better.

After that, it fades fast. Tuesday the 8th through the end of the forecast is a real struggle. Swell drops to 1ft-2ft, periods are short (6-7 seconds), and the energy is weak (43 to 157). The wind shifts around a bit – we even get a glassy morning on Monday the 14th of September with 2ft and 3 mph from the north – but there’s just no swell to work with.

For the standout, if I have to pick the best of a quiet bunch, it’s that afternoon on Sunday the 6th of September. That 12-second groundswell could offer a couple of clean, long-period lines even at 2ft. It’s not gonna be pumping, but it’s the only session that might give you a proper glide over the reef. After that, Monday the 7th afternoon is a close second – 11-second period and a touch more size, but the wind is onshore.

Overall, for the next two weeks, it’s mostly a write-off if you’re looking for decent surf. There’s a lot of days with small, short-period, onshore slop. If you’re a beginner and just want to get wet, any day with 3ft+ and light wind is doable, but for anyone else, wait for a better window. Keep an eye on that longer-period swell – even small, it’s the only hope.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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