Surf Forecasts:
Viana do Castelo surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period, WNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, WNW swell with 1,369 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Viana do Castelo this week:
The surf forecast for Viana do Castelo over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Viana do Castelo in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Viana do Castelo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, this is Rusty again, same talk but in feet and miles. Here’s how Viana do Castelo shapes up.
First up, Friday the 28th of August is a big-water day. We’ve got a 7ft WNW swell rolling in with an 11-second period and heavy energy (1051). That’s way too much for this river break. By the afternoon, it’s pushing 8ft with 1369 energy – that’s expert-only territory, and the wind is light but cross-onshore. Not the spot for most of us.
Saturday the 29th drops fast. Swell holds around 4ft to 5ft from the NW, but the period is a short 8 seconds, energy down to 203–244. Choppy, weak, and not worth a paddle.
Sunday the 30th morning is the first real chance. Flat calm glass, a clean 5ft from the NW at 9 seconds, energy at 423. That’s good enough for a session, but at that size, it’s still a bit much for beginners. Afternoon gets breezy and messes it up.
Monday the 31st and Tuesday 1st stay clean with cross-offshore wind, swell sitting between 5ft and 6ft. The energy is moderate, but the wind keeps it tidy. You can get a few, but nothing special.
Then from Wednesday 2nd afternoon through Thursday 3rd, it goes flat. Swell drops under 2ft, energy barely registers (47–55). Dead.
The big one comes on Friday 4th of September. Morning brings a long-period groundswell from the WNW – only 3ft but with a 14-second period and 401 energy. That’s quality, and with light offshore wind it’ll be glassy perfection at the river mouth. By the afternoon, it’s 4ft, still NW, period 13 seconds, energy 533. That’s the best of the whole run.
Saturday 5th still has size (4ft to 5ft, 11 to 13 seconds, energy 588 to 688) but the wind gets messy. Still worth a look. Sunday 6th afternoon goes glassy again with 4ft NW at 11 seconds – another clean, fun session.
After that, from the 7th to the 12th, the swell just dies. Tiny waves (1ft to 3ft), weak energy, and side-shore winds. Not worth your time. Water temp is about average for the season.
The clear standout: Friday 4th of September morning at Viana do Castelo. Long-period groundswell, glassy conditions – those river walls will be throwing clean, lined-up waves. The Sunday 6th afternoon glass-off is a solid backup.
Rusty, over and out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1051 | 1369 | 351 | 244 | 203 | 213 | 423 | 365 | 264 | 498 | 480 | 492 | 321 | 486 | 356 | 128 | 115 | 99 | 35 | 26 | 21 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 4:00PM3.44m | 4:19AM3.30m | 4:32PM3.52m | 4:52AM3.38m | 5:06PM3.53m | 5:26AM3.40m | 5:42PM3.47m | 6:03AM3.36m | 6:21PM3.33m | 6:45AM3.25m | 7:05PM3.14m | 7:34AM3.08m | 8:00PM2.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:45AM0.70m | 10:09PM0.57m | 10:18AM0.59m | 10:41PM0.50m | 10:52AM0.54m | 11:14PM0.48m | 11:28AM0.56m | 11:50PM0.54m | 12:07PM0.65m | 00:29AM0.66m | 12:52PM0.81m | 1:14AM0.85m | 1:44PM1.01m | 2:09AM1.08m | |||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 24 | 27 | 23 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SW 16 | SW 15 | NW 8 | SSW 16 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 8 |
1051 | 1369 | 351 | 244 | 203 | 213 | 423 | 365 | 264 | 498 | 480 | 492 | 321 | 9 | 9 | 128 | 24 | 99 | 35 | 26 | 21 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | — | SW 15 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NW 5 | WNW 8 | NW 8 |
— | — | 307 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 10 | 10 | — | — | 8 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | — | — | N 8 | — | SSW 16 | W 8 | SW 14 | NW 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 24 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | N 2 | — | NNW 4 | — | — | NW 9 | NNW 8 | — | NW 7 | — | — | NW 5 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 9 | — | — | 486 | 356 | — | 115 | — | — | 6 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 104 | 0 | 10 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 241 | 151 | 44 | 0 | 258 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Douro and Minho | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Viana do Castelo Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Viana do Castelo provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Viana do Castelo can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Viana do Castelo 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 (Viana do Castelo) 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 Viana do Castelo 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.
Viana do Castelo is 3 km (2 miles) from Viana do Castelo. If you plan a holiday in Douro and Minho, look for hotels and other accommodation in Viana do Castelo. Viana do Castelo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











