Surf Forecasts:
Porto da Cruz surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, NNE swell with 923 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 21 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Porto da Cruz this week:
The surf forecast for Porto da Cruz over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Porto da Cruz in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 16s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porto da Cruz over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for Porto da Cruz over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it's a pretty bleak stretch ahead. We've got a real dry spell on our hands. The first proper chance for a wave doesn't show up for a few days, and even then, it's nothing to write home about. The wait goes all the way to Monday the 21st for anything that's even surfable, with a gap of several days of poor conditions before that.
Porto da Cruz is a reef break, and it's only "fairly consistent," so when the conditions are off, it really shows. Water temp is sitting at 76° with a tiny anomaly of 2°, so it's about what you'd expect for this time of year.
That Monday the 21st is the best we've got, but it's hardly a standout. Through the morning we've got glassy conditions with a tiny 3ft swell coming from the ENE at 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 247. In the afternoon, it stays glassy with the same 3ft swell, just a bit longer period at 9 seconds and an even weaker energy of 234. It's surfable, but very ordinary. It's a "beginner" spot, and with tiny waves like this and clean conditions, it's about the only window for a learner to get wet.
The whole rest of the 16-day run is a write-off. We get a tiny spike in energy on Tuesday the 22nd afternoon, with a 2ft NW swell at a very long 18-second period (409 energy), and it's glassy. But that swell is so weak and the period so long it'll just be fat and slopey at a place like this. After that, it's back to cross-onshore winds and poor surf, all the way through to Thursday the 1st of October.
The biggest issue here is that the prevailing wind is straight out of the NE to N, which is cross-on or on for this spot. That keeps it chopped up and messy. The raw swell energy never really gets going either, with most days showing 'poor surf conditions'. For the few times the wind does go glassy, the swell is too small or the direction is off. There's really nothing to get excited about. The whole outlook is a dud.
Keep an eye on the charts, but for the next two weeks, Porto da Cruz is a miss.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NW 18 | NW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 126 | 202 | 296 | 477 | 802 | 883 | 864 | 873 | 683 | 488 | 412 | 232 | 153 | 157 | 179 | 103 | 119 | 113 | 111 | 266 | 427 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 5:51PM1.73m | 6:10AM1.72m | 6:34PM1.54m | 6:59AM1.56m | 7:38PM1.38m | 8:20AM1.45m | 9:25PM1.32m | 10:10AM1.46m | 11:05PM1.39m | 11:27AM1.58m | 00:02AM1.53m | 12:15PM1.74m | 00:41AM1.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:38AM0.44m | 11:50PM0.55m | 12:20PM0.61m | 00:32AM0.71m | 1:18PM0.77m | 1:35AM0.85m | 2:57PM0.86m | 3:27AM0.90m | 4:51PM0.81m | 5:05AM0.81m | 5:54PM0.68m | 6:00AM0.67m | 6:35PM0.52m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
Feels °C | 24 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | NW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 9 | SSW 13 | N 16 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NW 16 |
| kJ | 29 | 28 | 50 | 66 | 79 | 58 | 56 | 22 | 34 | 135 | 412 | 232 | 153 | 127 | 94 | 103 | 119 | 86 | 80 | 90 | 427 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | SSW 18 | NW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | NNW 13 | NNW 11 | N 16 | NNW 14 | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNW 11 | NW 18 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 17 | 30 | 39 | 84 | 71 | 70 | 66 | 34 | 35 | 25 | 177 | 160 | 135 | 157 | 179 | 81 | 75 | 57 | 111 | 266 | 71 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | N 13 | N 12 | N 16 | N 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 12 | NNE 7 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 |
| kJ | 24 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 33 | 30 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 54 | 91 | 59 | 113 | 42 | 91 | 79 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 126 | 202 | 296 | 477 | 802 | 883 | 864 | 873 | 683 | 488 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
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.
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