
Surf Forecasts:
Viana do Castelo surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, NW swell with 92 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with NNW 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Viana do Castelo in the next 16 days are 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Viana do Castelo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get this straight: the first ten days or so of this 16-day window are a write-off for Viana do Castelo. There’s barely a ripple worth paddling for. The energy is weak, the wind is wrong, and the swell is tiny. It’s a flat spell that stretches from the 18th of July all the way through to the 27th. Nothing to get excited about.
Now, the 28th of July (Tuesday) is where things start to wake up. Tuesday morning, the swell at Viana do Castelo (Portugal) is still small, but the energy is starting to build. By Tuesday afternoon, we’re looking at a clean 6 ft swell from the NW with a period of 7 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze, and the break is cleaning up nicely. The combined energy hits 327 (moderate). This is a solid session for the average surfer, but it’s not the standout.
The real standout comes on the 30th of July (Thursday morning). The swell is a solid 7 ft from the NW, period 9 seconds, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the N. The break is clean, the energy is strong at 649 (moderate to strong). This is the best wave of the period for the experienced surfer. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, no major anomaly. The break is a river mouth, so with that long period, it could be a bit straight, but with the wind as clean as it is, it’ll be hollow. The 31st of July (Friday morning) is also a beauty: glassy, 6 ft from the NNW, period 8 seconds, and energy at 505. That’s a close second, but Thursday morning edges it.
The first of August (Saturday) has big swell coming – 7 ft to 8 ft – but it’s too big for this break, and it gets a warning. The wind also gets a bit cross, so that’s for the experts only, if anyone is brave enough. The 2nd of August (Sunday) drops back to a clean 7 ft swell from the NNW, with light east-southeast wind and clean conditions. Another good one, but by then, the window is closing.
The bottom line: if you can wait until the 30th of July, that Thursday morning is the pick. It’s clean, punchy, and the best of what’s on offer. The first week is a total loss, but the second week delivers. Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 9 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 92 | 14 | 20 | 50 | 41 | 37 | 27 | 20 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 9 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:55PM3.36m | 7:25AM3.06m | 7:38PM3.16m | 8:11AM2.90m | 8:23PM2.95m | 9:00AM2.76m | 9:14PM2.74m | 9:56AM2.64m | 10:14PM2.57m | 11:01AM2.58m | 11:26PM2.48m | 12:10PM2.60m | 00:40AM2.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:09AM0.72m | 1:20PM0.97m | 1:53AM0.90m | 2:06PM1.16m | 2:39AM1.09m | 2:59PM1.33m | 3:32AM1.26m | 4:03PM1.46m | 4:34AM1.39m | 5:18PM1.51m | 5:42AM1.44m | 6:32PM1.46m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 9:06 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | WSW 4 |
13 | 92 | 14 | 11 | 50 | 41 | 37 | 27 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | NW 10 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 7 |
1 | 4 | 11 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 11 | W 11 | NNW 9 | W 9 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | N 8 | N 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | NNW 8 | SW 12 | — | SW 4 | W 8 |
5 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | — | 1 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | — | SSE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
10 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1236 | 2 | 29 | 104 | 10 | 10 | 258 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 168 | 251 | 168 | 19 | 182 | 180 | 758 |
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.










