Viana do Castelo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the Viana do Castelo area over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim. There’s a massive gap in anything worthwhile. We’re talking from right now, all the way through to the morning of Saturday the 18th, it’s just a whole lot of nothing. Small, weak, messy, and mostly cross or onshore winds. The combined wave energy is pathetic, barely cracking triple digits (mostly 50-150) and the swell heights are tiny, mostly under 3 ft. It’s not surfable, it’s a lake. You’d be better off checking the wind for a kite session if you’re desperate.

Now, the first real glimmer of hope hits on Saturday afternoon, July 18th. The swell finally bumps up to 6 ft from the NW, with a short period of 6 seconds. The wind will be a clean cross-offshore from the NNW, which is a major positive. The combined energy jumps to 284 (moderate). It’s still a short-period swell, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and walled up at the beach, but for a river/creek mouth like Viana, that short-period stuff can actually wrap in and offer some fun, punchy walls. The rating suggests it’s marginal, but it’s the first real pulse we’ve seen. The water is currently sitting at 62°, which is about 3° colder than usual for this time of year – so a 3/2mm wetsuit is your friend.

Sunday July 19th keeps the energy up with a similar 6 ft NW swell, but the wind is cranking at 22 mph from the NNW. That’s a clean cross-offshore, but it’s a fresh breeze, so it’ll be a bit of a battle out there and the surface will be a little lumpy. The combined energy is a solid 261. For the more experienced crew, this could be a fun, windy session.

The real standout, the one you want to circle on your calendar, is Tuesday afternoon, July 21st. The swell is predicted to be a solid 8 ft from the NNW, coming in with a combined energy of 873 (strong). The wind is forecast to be light and from the SW, which is directly onshore, but the data says "wind and tide favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break." This is a big one. 8 ft is expert territory, especially at a river mouth where the currents and rip can get serious. The period is only 8 seconds, so it won’t be a clean groundswell, but the sheer size will push a lot of water. If you are an expert, this is the day to be on the water at Viana do Castelo. Expect the water to feel a bit fuller than usual.

Wednesday July 22nd also shows a big 7 ft NW swell with a combined energy of 609, again with light onshore wind. It’s another one for the experts.

After that, the swell drops back down. Thursday morning July 23rd is a bit of a tease. The swell is a manageable 4 ft from the NNW, with a combined energy of 173. The wind is glassy. The data calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’ll be clean, but the energy is just not there. Friday the 24th is back to small, weak, and not worth talking about.

Saturday morning July 25th offers another brief window. The swell is 3 ft from the NNW, with a combined energy of 96. Again, glassy conditions. It’s a small, clean, ordinary day. Good for a beginner to get a few soft ones, but not a standout.

So, to wrap it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. The only real action is the pulse from Saturday July 18th through Wednesday July 22nd, with Tuesday July 21st being the biggest and most powerful of the lot, but strictly for the experienced crew.

Rusty, signing off.

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