Viana do Castelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Viana do Castelo over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you: it’s a slow start, and the first real window of opportunity doesn’t appear until the very end of July and into early August. The river-mouth setup here is exposed to the west and northwest, and while we do see some pulses of energy, the winds are often cross-shore or cross-onshore, making it hard to get that clean, glassy face. The best wave will be the morning of Friday the 31st of July, with glassy conditions and a long-period swell from the northwest. That’s your standout.

The first week is pretty ordinary. From Friday the 17th of July right through to Thursday the 23rd of July, the swell is tiny, mostly between 1ft and 2ft, with a short period of 5 to 10 seconds. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting between 18 and 80. Winds are mostly cross or cross-onshore, with a few glassy moments, but the waves are too small and weak to get excited about. The water temperature is about average for the time of year. This stretch is a write-off for any decent surfing.

Friday the 24th of July through to Monday the 27th of July sees a bit more size, with swell building from 2ft to 7ft, but the period stays short, between 6 and 8 seconds. The combined energy picks up, reaching 272 on the Saturday afternoon, but the winds are too strong and cross-off. By Monday the 27th of July, there’s a morning window of 5ft swell from the NNW with a 7-second period, light offshore winds, and clean conditions. The combined energy is moderate at 313. It’s surfable but not a standout.

From Tuesday the 28th of July to Thursday the 30th of July, the swell holds around 5ft to 7ft, but the period is still short, and the winds are mostly cross-off or cross-onshore, with moderate to fresh breezes. The combined energy gets strong, hitting 526 on the Tuesday afternoon, but the onshore wind and short period make it messy. This is more for experienced surfers if they’re keen, but it won’t be pretty.

Now, the standout. On Friday the 31st of July, the morning brings glassy conditions, a 3ft swell from the northwest with a long period of 11 seconds, and a combined energy of 337. This is the cleanest, most promising window in the whole outlook. The swell is well-sized, the period is long enough to give shape and power, and the glassy wind means the river mouth will be smooth. It’s a true morning session for anyone who can paddle out.

Saturday the 1st of August looks similar in size, with 5ft from the northwest, but the wind turns cross-onshore, so the quality drops. The energy is still there at 351, but it’s not the same as the Friday morning.

Crowds can be an issue here, as Viana do Castelo is often busy, so expect company on the good days. The break is fairly consistent, but when it’s good, it draws a crowd.

Overall, hold out for the morning of Friday the 31st of July. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The rest of the period is either too small, too windy, or too short-period to get excited about.

Rusty

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