Viana do Castelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s switch to feet and Fahrenheit for the crew who think in those numbers.

The first week is a flat spell, no way around it. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak waves and cross-shore winds. It’s not until the second week that we get a pulse, and even then, the best windows are tight. The standout sessions are the mornings of Tuesday, August 18th, and Wednesday, August 19th.

Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th are a no-go. Swell is around 2 to 3 ft, with a combined energy of 143 and 90, and the wind is cross or light. Saturday the 8th through Monday the 10th are the same story – tiny, weak, and messy. You’ll get some glassy mornings on the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th, but the swell is mostly under 2 ft, with energy in the double digits. It’s a real dry run.

Tuesday the 12th shows a lift to 4 ft from the W, with a combined energy of 242, but the wind is cross-shore, keeping it marginal. That continues through Wednesday the 13th and into the weekend, with swell bouncing between 3 ft and 5 ft, but the wind never cleans up. The north-westerlies are blowing 12-19 mph on the afternoons, making it choppy.

Now, the good stuff. The morning of Tuesday the 18th is the standout. We’ve got a solid 6 ft swell from the NW, with a combined energy of 480 – that’s moderate energy, enough to get excited. The wind is light at 3 mph from the NNE, which is cross-offshore, and the conditions are clean. This is a session for intermediate to advanced surfers. At 6 ft, beginners might be in over their heads, and the period is only 8 seconds, so it’s a short-period windswell. Still, it’s the biggest we’ve seen.

The next morning, Wednesday the 19th, is another winner. The swell drops to 4 ft from the NNW, with a combined energy of 237. The wind is glassy, 3 mph from the NNW, making the surface perfect. This one is more manageable for all levels. The period is 9 seconds, so the waves will have a bit more shape.

We’re talking about Viana do Castelo, a river mouth exposed to the W. It’s fairly consistent, but it’s a beginner-friendly spot that can get crowded often. The water temperature is about average for the time of year. The ideal swell direction is from the W. The Tuesday swell is from the NW, which is a bit off, but the Wednesday swell is from the NNW, which is closer. The best wave quality is on those two mornings, with Tuesday offering the biggest size and Wednesday offering the cleanest conditions.

The afternoons in the second week are all blown out by stronger north-westerly winds, so mornings are the move. By the end of the period, Friday the 21st, the swell is back down to 3 ft, and the energy is weak. It’s a short window, but those two mornings are the real deal.

Rusty.

Read more