Viana do Castelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the surf around Viana do Castelo.

Right off the bat, the first Wednesday and Thursday are a bit of a write-off. The wind is howling at 12 to 19 mph from the north and north-northwest, tearing up the surface. The swell is there, mostly around 4 ft to 5 ft from the NNW with a moderate 8 to 10 second period, and the combined energy is moderate (376-580), but the conditions are just marginal. You’d be fighting the wind more than riding the wave.

Friday’s not much better. The swell drops away to a tiny 2 ft by the afternoon, and the wind stays on it. A real “meh” day.

Then, Saturday morning on the 12th of September is a nice little surprise. The wind drops to nothing – glassy conditions – and the swell is a tiny 2 ft from the WNW with a 10-second period. The energy is weak (135), but that glassy surface is a rare treat. Worth a paddle for a longboard or a funboard if you’ve got nothing else to do.

Sunday the 13th of September is the standout of the whole forecast. The morning is glassy with a light easterly, and the swell builds to a solid 5 ft from the NW with a 12-second period. The combined energy jumps to a strong 605. That’s a proper groundswell, and with the river mouth setup at Viana do Castelo, those longer periods will wrap in and offer some real shape. The wind stays light and cross-off in the afternoon, keeping it clean. This is the day to clear your schedule. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The next week is a mixed bag. Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th are small and average, with a bit of a bump on Monday morning. The wind flirts with being offshore, but the swell is just too weak to get excited about.

By Thursday the 17th, the swell is back up to 5 ft from the NW, but the wind is a stiff 12-19 mph cross-off, making it messy. Not the best.

Friday the 18th of September is another glassy morning, with a tiny 3 ft swell from the NNW. The energy is moderate (218), and the wind is calm. It’s small, but it’s clean.

The weekend of the 19th and 20th sees a bigger NW swell arrive, with 5 ft and a 12-second period on Saturday morning, pushing the energy up to 659. But the wind is cross-onshore, creating a bit of texture. It’s surfable, but not the clean gem of the previous Sunday.

The final week starts with a decent morning on Monday the 21st of September: 3 ft from the WNW, light cross-off wind, and clean conditions. But the afternoon gets messy with onshore winds.

The real late-bloomer is Thursday the 24th of September. The morning is glassy, winds are light from the NNE, and the swell is a solid 6 ft from the NW with an 11-second period. The combined energy is a strong 838. This is the biggest, cleanest swell of the entire forecast. It’s pushing towards the top end of intermediate territory, but for any experienced surfer, this is a dream. The wait is long, but it looks like a proper session.

Overall, ride the glassy Sunday the 13th, and keep an eye on that Thursday the 24th. The river mouth here can handle the long-period swells, so don’t be shy.

- Rusty

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