
Surf Forecasts:
Viana do Castelo surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 10PM (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 77 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 10PM (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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 1.3m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 19th 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 folks, Rusty here, looking at the swell window for the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, the first week is a bit of a write-off. We're looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak, and poorly shaped waves. Don't bother waxing up just yet.
We kick off on Saturday the 18th of July with nothing but knee-high dribble from the WNW at 1 foot. The wind is glassy in the morning, but the energy is basically non-existent, sitting at 21. It's a frustrating start, and that feeling carries right through the whole first week. The water temp is sitting at 66°, which is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year.
We'll see a slight bump on the 22nd, with the morning going glassy again on a 1 foot WNW swell. The comments say "surfable but very ordinary," and that's about the best we can say for it. The energy is still pathetic at 49. Honestly, it's not worth the drive.
The real story, and the only thing worth getting excited about, is a pulse of energy that arrives on Monday the 27th of July. The morning session is the standout of the whole outlook. We’ll see a solid 3 foot swell from the NNW, with a clean 10-second period, pushing the energy up to a moderate 202. The wind is light and cross-off shore, which means the river mouth at Viana do Castelo should be clean and offering some proper little waves. It’s the only time in the forecast where the stars align for a decent paddle.
The good news is that the swell sticks around, but it gets a bit of a personality crisis. The afternoon of the 27th jumps to 6 feet, with much stronger energy (527), but the wind howls to 22 mph. That’s getting too big for the beginners and the strong wind will make it a messy, blown-out affair. The same pattern holds for the next few days: solid swell heights (6 to 8 feet) and heaps of energy (377 to 769), but the wind is always too strong for a clean, enjoyable surf. The 30th of July afternoon actually has a note saying the swell is predicted to be too big for this break.
If you’re an expert looking for a power session, the morning of Thursday the 30th of July has 7 feet from the NNW with a gentle offshore breeze, but the tide conditions might be questionable. The 31st of July morning is also a decent option, with 6 feet from the NNW and a light breeze.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a total dud. The second week brings a massive injection of energy, but the wind is almost always a problem. Your best bet, and the only one I’d really call a standout, is the morning of Monday the 27th of July. Get out there early, because the afternoon is a write-off, and the rest of the week is for the big-wave crew and the kite surfers.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | WNW 8 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 13 | 77 | 14 | 18 | 31 | 31 | 37 | 26 | 20 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 6 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | 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 | 12:36PM0.80m | 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 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 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 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 18 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | WNW 8 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | NNW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 4 |
7 | 13 | 77 | 14 | 18 | 31 | 31 | 37 | 26 | 11 | 33 | 15 | 32 | 30 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 8 | W 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 7 |
13 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 23 | 20 | 11 | 33 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 12 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 4 | NNW 7 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WNW 8 |
1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1164 | 1236 | 2 | 36 | 151 | 5 | 10 | 104 | 5 | 19 | 312 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 168 | 38 | 1240 | 146 | 182 | 869 | 146 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Douro and Minho | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










