
Surf Forecasts:
Viana do Castelo surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, NW swell with 151 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. 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 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Viana do Castelo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a proper look at what’s on the table for the Viana do Castelo stretch. It’s a bit of a waiting game, and the first few days are a real struggle.
We’ve got a long, slow start here. The first week is mostly a write-off. From Sunday the 19th right through to Saturday the 25th, the surf is tiny and the conditions are just not playing ball. There’s a lot of light cross-onshore breeze and choppy, messy water. The swell is weak, barely registering (combined energy between 20 and 89). It’s frustrating, but it’s the kind of flat spell that happens.
Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd do offer a couple of rare exceptions with glassy mornings, but the swell is nothing more than 1.0ft to 1ft from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds. It’s surfable, but you’d be scratching for anything decent. The water temperature is sitting at 68°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
The first real sign of life comes on Sunday the 26th of July. The morning session sees a 4ft NW swell with a 7-second period and a clean cross-off wind from the NNW. The combined energy jumps to 170 (moderate wave energy). It’s not a classic, but it’s the first proper surfable wave we’ve seen. The afternoon gets a bit windier with NW winds at 15 mph, so the morning is definitely the pick.
Then we hit a small window of potential. Wednesday the 29th of July morning is a standout. The ENE wind is glassy, and we’ve got a 3ft NW swell with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a solid 356 (strong wave energy). The conditions look clean, and it’s a rare moment where everything lines up. This is the best option on offer for the whole period.
Later that afternoon, the swell picks up to 6ft from the NNW (period 7 seconds) but the wind turns cross-onshore, making it messy. It’s a shame because the size is there, but the quality drops off.
Thursday the 30th of July afternoon is another decent shout. The swell is 4ft from the NNW with an 11-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off from the NNW. The combined energy is 383 (strong wave energy). It’s clean, and the longer period gives the waves a bit more shape. This is your second-best option.
Friday the 31st of July morning is worth a mention too. The wind is dead calm (glass) with a 4ft NNW swell, 9-second period, and 207 combined energy. It’s clean and small, but it’s a fun little session.
After that, the second week trails off into small, inconsistent surf with light winds again. The swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft, and the energy is weak (89 to 147). Nothing to get excited about.
So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Wednesday the 29th of July morning at Viana do Castelo. The glassy conditions and 3ft NW swell make for a clean, relaxed session. The backup is Thursday the 30th of July afternoon with the 4ft NNW swell and clean cross-off wind. The rest of the window is a bust.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on the glassy mornings.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | NNW 7 | W 5 | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
15 | 62 | 51 | 48 | 39 | 20 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 39 | 86 | 136 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 1:11PM2.69m | 1:41AM2.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:46AM1.41m | 7:30PM1.35m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 9:05 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 22 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | WSW 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 |
15 | 62 | 51 | 48 | 39 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 39 | 86 | 136 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 7 | W 10 | N 6 |
12 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | NNW 8 | WNW 12 | W 8 | W 7 | WSW 7 | NNW 8 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | N 8 | SW 12 | — | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 11 | N 6 | SW 16 |
14 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 6 | — | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 106 | 10 | 18 | 258 | 5 | 0 | 168 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 19 | 266 | 146 | 180 | 182 | 569 | 104 | 38 | 100 | 0 |
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.










