Viana do Castelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cooking for Viana do Castelo over the next couple of weeks.

We're starting off with a bit of a slow burner, but the river mouth is gonna see some action. First up, on Monday the 7th, we’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the WNW, with a long 12-second period. That’s groundswell energy, and with a combined energy of 1015, we’re talking moderate to strong power. The morning is looking prime with clean, cross-off winds from the NNW at 6 mph. It’s a bit much for the beginners at that size, but for the experienced crew, this is excellent. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is pretty much spot on average for this time of year.

Monday afternoon, the wind picks up to 12 mph, and while the swell holds, it gets a bit messy. Tuesday morning fades a touch to 4ft, still clean, but the energy drops right off to 305. Tuesday afternoon turns into a bit of a write-off with light rain and onshore wind.

Wednesday the 9th sees a jump in size again, 6ft to 6ft, but that short 8-second period makes it weak and crumbly. The wind is stiff, too, so not one to get excited about.

Thursday the 10th is a real highlight. The morning is glassy, with a gentle 4ft swell from the NNW. The wind is dead calm – glass. It’s clean, it’s tidy, and the energy is moderate (363). This is the kind of session where you can just sit out there and enjoy the morning.

The weekend is a bit of a mixed bag. Friday drops right off to small 2ft waves, and Saturday morning is flat and glassy but tiny. However, Saturday afternoon throws a curveball with a 2ft swell but a very long 16-second period. That’s serious groundswell energy, giving it 338, and the waves will be clean and lined up. It’s small, but the quality will be there for a log or a fish.

Now, the real standout window is Sunday the 13th. We’ve got a 5ft morning swell, glassy conditions, and a combined energy of 904. That’s strong. The 13-second period means it’s gonna be powerful and well-shaped. This is the pick of the entire forecast. The river mouth is exposed to the W, and this WNW swell is a perfect match for the optimum direction. Expect very good surf.

The following week is more of a holding pattern. Monday the 14th is a bit onshore, Tuesday the 15th is ordinary. But Wednesday the 16th morning is another gem. Glassy winds, 5ft of NW swell, and 554 energy. It’s clean, it’s fun, and it’s one to mark on the calendar. Thursday the 17th is blown out, and Friday the 18th has a clean but small 3ft morning.

The second week looks promising but less certain. The 19th and 20th are marginal, with cross-on winds and questionable conditions. The best bet in the final days is Tuesday the 22nd morning, with a clean 4ft swell from the NNW and light offshore breezes. It’s small, but it’ll be clean.

Overall, the standout is definitely Sunday the 13th, with Thursday the 10th and Wednesday the 16th mornings as excellent backup options. The crowds can be a factor at Viana, but when the conditions are this good, you’ll find your peak.

Keep your eyes on the horizon, and I’ll see you out there.

Rusty

Read more