Nazare Big Wave Challenge Gets Yellow Alert, Could Run Saturday in Giant Waves
70-foot plus waves predicted for Portuguese big wave tow surfing competition.
Surf Forecasts:
Praia Formosa surfForecast / Madeira / Portugal
48hr Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Tuesday 16 Dec 2025 WETForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Praia Formosa surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Praia Formosa sea temperature is
20.3° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)How big are the waves at Praia Formosa today?
The current surf forecast for Praia Formosa at 3PM is: 1.6m 13s primary swell from a West-northwest direction (forecast issued at 11:00am December 16). An open ocean swell of 1.6m 14s is not directed at the surf break, a second open ocean swell of 0.8m 8s is not directed at the surf break. The wind direction is predicted to be cross-offshore and the swell rating is 3.
| Time (WET) & Date | Wave Height | Wave Period |
|---|---|---|
| Morning (16 Dec) | 6ft (1.8m) | 12s |
| Afternoon (16 Dec) | 5ft (1.6m) | 13s |
| Evening (16 Dec) | 4.5ft (1.4m) | 13s |
Table - waves today at Praia Formosa. (Swell directed towards the surf break)
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Tuesday 16 | Wednesday 17 | Thursday 18 | Friday 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 AM | 12 PM | 3 PM | 6 PM | 9 PM | 0 AM | 3 AM | 6 AM | 9 AM | 12 PM | 3 PM | 6 PM | 9 PM | 0 AM | 3 AM | 6 AM | 9 AM | 12 PM | 3 PM | 6 PM | 9 PM | 0 AM | 3 AM | 6 AM | |
Rating (10 max) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Swell Height Map |    |    |    |    | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wave Height (m) & direction (?) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period(s) (?) | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 23 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Wave (?)Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ (?) | 865 | 836 | 837 | 722 | 722 | 673 | 875 | 745 | 649 | 551 | 426 | 333 | 328 | 269 | 250 | 199 | 1695 | 612 | 1028 | 1891 | 1275 | 2568 | 2481 | 2193 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | glass | glass | glass | glass | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross- on | cross | cross- on | cross- on | cross- off | cross- off |
High Tide / height (m) | 11:28AM 1.64 | 11:53PM 1.74 | 12:10PM 1.68 | 12:30AM 1.81 | 12:49PM 1.72 | 1:06AM 1.87 | ||||||||||||||||||
Low Tide / height (m) | 5:35PM 0.47 | 6:03AM 0.46 | 6:13PM 0.42 | 6:41AM 0.39 | 6:49PM 0.37 | |||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 16 | Wednesday 17 | Thursday 18 | Friday 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sunrise | 8:02 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8:03 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8:03 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sunset | - | - | - | 6:02 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6:04 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6:04 | - | - | - | - |
 | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |
Rain (mm) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 5 |
| Temp. °C | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
| Feels °C (?) | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 |
- Map Icons:
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Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
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