Viana do Castelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are cooking up for us.

First up, the water temp here is sitting at a balmy 70°, which is a good 4° warmer than what we’d normally expect for this time of year. That’s a solid anomaly, makes for a pleasant paddle out without needing a thick steamer.

So, the next 16 days have a bit of a slow start before we get any real action. The first few days are pretty flat and ordinary. The morning of Monday the 27th is when things finally begin to look like surfing. We’ve got a 4ft swell rolling in from the NNW with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind is dead glassy – a light, offshore NE breeze at just 3 mph. That’s going to create some clean lines. The combined energy is moderate at 297, so there’s some push behind it. It’s not a classic, but it’s our first real chance to get wet with some shape. The afternoon gets a bit more cross and messy, so your window is the early session.

Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are a write-off with onshore winds and weak, disorganised energy. We then hit a bit of a lull through to the end of July with tiny surf and ordinary conditions.

Now, the standout window opens on Monday the 3rd of August. That morning, we get a 4ft swell from the west at 8 seconds, but more importantly, the wind goes glassy again – a WNW breeze at just 3 mph. The morning session is where you want to be. The afternoon gets a little bumpier with a 9 mph NW cross-off wind, but the swell bumps up to 5ft, so the energy is there (284). This is the best window of the first week: small, clean, and user-friendly.

However, the real event is Saturday the 8th of August. This is a big day. We’re looking at a 8ft swell in the morning, building to 8ft in the afternoon, both from the NW with an 11-second period. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is huge – 1242 in the morning and 1377 in the afternoon. The wind is blowing cross-off from the N to NW, keeping it clean. But honestly, for Viana do Castelo, at this size, it’s going to be too much for most. This is strictly for experienced surfers on the right bank. The power and size will be intimidating. It’s a standout for the big-wave crew, but not a recommendation for the average punter.

Sunday the 9th of August sees the swell drop back to a still-chunky 6ft from the NNW, but the wind picks up strong out of the NNW at 22 mph in the afternoon, spoiling the session. The morning might offer some manageable, raw waves for the capable.

After that, the week of the 10th dries up again quickly, dropping back to knee-high slop with no real energy.

So, bottom line: Monday the 3rd of August is your pick for the average surfer – clean, glassy, good energy. Saturday the 8th of August is the big, powerful standout for experts only. The rest is either flat or blown out. Stay patient.

- Rusty

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