Viana do Castelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up like for Viana do Castelo.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The first week and a half is pretty grim. We’re looking at a long, frustrating gap with hardly any surf worth paddling out for. The wait goes on until the morning of Monday the 21st of July before we finally see a proper window.

The Early Days (9th July – 20th July): A Washing Machine

For the first few days, the swell is tiny and weak. On Thursday the 9th, we’ve got a measly 2ft swell from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds, but the 9 mph cross-shore wind from the NW is ruining it. The combined energy is a pathetic 89, and the water is feeling a bit colder than normal at 61°F. It’s just not on.

Friday the 10th morning offers a brief moment of hope with glassy conditions and a 3ft swell (106 combined energy), but it’s so ordinary it’s not worth getting excited about. That afternoon, the wind swings back to cross-shore and kills it again.

Saturday the 11th morning is a similar story – glassy wind, but an even smaller 2ft swell. It’s surfable, but barely. After that, it’s a complete write-off. Sunday the 12th through to Sunday the 19th is a dead zone. There’s a bit of a swell spike on Saturday the 18th with a 7ft NW swell (407 combined energy), but it’s accompanied by a brutal 25 mph cross-offshore wind from the NNW. That’s a powerful, messy, expert-only situation if you’re brave enough, but honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The same goes for Sunday the 19th with another 7ft NNW swell (601 combined energy) and 25 mph winds. It’s clean, but way too strong for a decent paddle.

The Only Standout: Monday 21st July Morning

Finally, a break in the clouds. The real standout, the only one worth circling in your calendar, is the morning of Monday the 21st of July. The wind is going to be a glorious offshore breeze from the NNE at only 6 mph. The swell is a solid 4ft from the NNW, with a combined energy of 212. It’s not a monster, but it’s a proper push. The forecast says "expect good surf conditions," and with that light offshore wind, the river mouth at *Viana do Castelo* should be clean and offering some fun, shaped waves. The swell direction matches the optimum (W) well enough, and the period is a short 8 seconds, so it won’t be overly powerful, just fun. Get on it early.

The Rest of the Second Week (21st July – 24th July)

After that Monday morning blast, it fades fast. The afternoon of the 21st gets messy with cross-shore wind. Tuesday the 22nd morning is glassy again but only 3ft, and then it’s back to tiny, weak waves and poor conditions for the rest of the week. The 24th brings a longer period groundswell (14 seconds) from the NW, but it’s only 1ft and the wind is onshore and choppy. A long period on a tiny wave is just a tease.

So, to sum it up: grit your teeth through the first stretch, and be ready for Monday the 21st of July. That’s your one shot.

Rusty.

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