
Surf Forecasts:
Viana do Castelo surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, NNW swell with 380 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with WSW 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Viana do Castelo in the next 16 days are 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Viana do Castelo over the next 16 days.
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.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 17°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 5 | SW 6 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | WSW 6 | W 9 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 6 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
80 | 88 | 78 | 71 | 45 | 19 | 25 | 31 | 40 | 33 | 46 | 51 | 37 | 24 | 25 | 56 | 23 | 21 | 11 | 223 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 1:37AM3.02m | 2:07PM3.31m | 2:38AM3.15m | 3:03PM3.47m | 3:34AM3.27m | 3:54PM3.58m | 4:24AM3.34m | 4:42PM3.63m | 5:11AM3.35m | 5:27PM3.61m | 5:57AM3.30m | 6:11PM3.51m | 6:41AM3.20m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:25PM0.91m | 7:45AM0.82m | 8:25PM0.73m | 8:42AM0.70m | 9:19PM0.57m | 9:33AM0.61m | 10:09PM0.46m | 10:22AM0.57m | 10:56PM0.42m | 11:08AM0.59m | 11:41PM0.46m | 11:52AM0.67m | 00:25AM0.56m | 12:36PM0.80m | |||||||
— | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | |
— | 9:09 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | 9:06 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 21 |
Feels °C | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | W 6 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | WNW 8 |
80 | 88 | 78 | 71 | 45 | 18 | 10 | 31 | 21 | 26 | 34 | 51 | 36 | 24 | 16 | 56 | 23 | 21 | 11 | — | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 5 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | SW 13 | WSW 5 | S 11 | S 12 | — | — |
57 | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 11 | 40 | 33 | 46 | 40 | 37 | 21 | 25 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 3 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | NNW 6 | SW 15 | SW 19 | W 8 | N 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | SW 14 | SW 15 | W 10 | SW 13 | — | NW 7 | S 14 | — | — | — |
6 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 6 | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 |
— | 2 | 30 | 30 | 15 | 19 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 17 | 35 | 106 | 223 | 115 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 18 | 182 | 168 | 5 | 126 | 106 | 4 | 179 | 104 | 2 | 57 | 106 | 0 | 796 | 180 | 5 | 515 | 1106 | 2 | 2 |
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.











