Surf Forecasts:
Porto da Cruz surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, NE swell with 322 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 12s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porto da Cruz over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I'm looking at the surf prospects for Porto da Cruz over the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, it's a tough stretch. This is a reef break that's fairly exposed to the swell, and it's a consistent spot, but the conditions are just not lining up for us. We've got a solid 16-day window ahead, but there's a big gap of no-good surf right from the start.
The first week is a write-off. From September 6th right through to the 13th, it's all poor surf conditions. The wind is hammering us from the north and north-northeast, creating a messy, choppy cross-onshore chop that's going to ruin any chance of a clean wave. The swell is mixed up, with short-period windswell from the NE and N, and the combined wave energy is all over the place – it starts off moderate (202) and actually builds to strong levels (460) on the 13th, but the wind just kills it. The water temp is sitting at 25°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's no consolation when you're battling the chop.
Things don't improve much in the second week either. September 14th brings a "marginal" forecast, but it's still onshore wind, and the swell is tiny at 3 ft. The 15th through the 20th is just more of the same – poor surf, cross-onshore or onshore winds, and weak, mixed-up swell. The energy drops off to weak levels, like 47 on the 18th. September 21st finally shows a bit of a shift, with a longer-period swell (12 seconds) from the NNW and lighter winds, but the height is only 3 ft and the energy is moderate at 251. It's still classified as poor surf, so don't get your hopes up.
So, to sum it up: there are zero standout sessions in this 16-day outlook. The combination of persistent cross-onshore winds and messy, mostly short-period swell means Porto da Cruz is not going to deliver. For a reef break like this, you need clean conditions and a decent groundswell, and we're not getting either. It's a long, flat spell, and that's just how it is for this area right now. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, this is not your week.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | N 13 | N 12 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 139 | 155 | 122 | 184 | 248 | 261 | 306 | 292 | 208 | 157 | 112 | 68 | 44 | 80 | 136 | 128 | 141 | 141 | 192 | 192 | 269 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:37AM1.71m | 11:27PM1.65m | 11:52AM1.88m | 00:31AM1.81m | 12:48PM2.08m | 1:20AM1.97m | 1:35PM2.25m | 2:03AM2.10m | 2:16PM2.36m | 2:41AM2.18m | 2:54PM2.40m | 3:17AM2.21m | 3:31PM2.36m | 3:51AM2.18m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:12PM0.54m | 5:35AM0.56m | 6:21PM0.36m | 6:34AM0.40m | 7:12PM0.18m | 7:21AM0.24m | 7:55PM0.04m | 8:03AM0.11m | 8:33PM-0.04m | 8:41AM0.04m | 9:09PM-0.06m | 9:17AM0.03m | 9:42PM-0.01m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:43 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — |
 | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NW 13 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NE 6 | N 13 | N 12 | N 11 | N 10 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 |
| kJ | 139 | 155 | 100 | 103 | 90 | 77 | 68 | 64 | 46 | 40 | 23 | 24 | 44 | 80 | 136 | 114 | 106 | 110 | 73 | 30 | 16 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | WNW 13 | NW 14 | N 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | W 8 | S 16 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | ENE 8 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 12 | 18 | 73 | 59 | 20 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 40 | 20 | 48 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | S 11 | NW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | N 9 | S 10 | — | S 10 | W 7 | S 16 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | SSW 13 | N 13 | W 10 | NW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 12 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 7 | 9 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | NE 5 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 56 | 75 | 122 | 184 | 248 | 261 | 306 | 292 | 208 | 157 | 112 | 68 | — | 41 | 80 | 128 | 141 | 141 | 192 | 192 | 269 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 28 | 28 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 38 | 28 | 38 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 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.
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