Surf Forecasts:
Viana do Castelo surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, NW swell with 625 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. 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 1.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Viana do Castelo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's break this down. We've got a long stretch of mediocrity ahead, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart pumping if you're patient.
To start, the next few days are pretty weak. Tuesday morning is rideable with swell around `3 ft` from the NNW at 8 seconds, but the energy is low. It’s glassy, which is nice, but it’s nothing to write home about. The water temp is about normal for the time of year, so no surprises. Tuesday afternoon fades out, and Wednesday and Thursday morning are pretty much a bust.
The first real pulse of energy arrives Thursday afternoon as a NNW groundswell fills in, pushing the swell to `5 ft`. It’s still rough around the edges, with the wind swinging cross-off. Friday morning looks slightly better, with clean conditions and a solid `5 ft` of NNW swell at 10 seconds. The energy is moderate, but the wind is gusty, making it a bit of a struggle.
The weekend is a write-off. The wind is strong, the swell is a mess, and the surf quality is poor. Not worth the drive.
Monday the 24th is a small, clean morning with `4 ft` of NW swell. The energy has backed off, making it just a tiny bit of fun, but it’s still a far cry from anything classic. The period is short, so it'll be crumbly.
Then we go quiet again. The middle of the week is flat and gutless. You'd be better off doing anything else.
But then, Thursday the 27th morning, it starts to wake up. We have `4 ft` of NW groundswell at 8 seconds, and the energy is climbing. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. It’s not massive, but it’s the first sign of life in a while.
Friday the 28th is where you want to be. The morning is glassy with a `4 ft` NW swell at 9 seconds. The energy is up, and the conditions are clean. This is our first real standout. It’s a small window, but it’s got potential.
The weekend gets messy again with onshore winds and choppy conditions. Sunday the 30th, the swell builds but it gets too big and sloppy for this spot, with a strong `8 ft` NW swell and heavy rain on the afternoon. Not for the faint of heart.
The early part of September is a mess, with strong winds and lumpy seas. Then, finally, on Wednesday the 2nd, the forecast flips. It’s a `6 ft` NW groundswell with a long period, and it’s glassy. This looks like the best conditions of the entire forecast. It’s a long way out, so don’t book your flights yet, but that one morning is the standout.
Keep your eyes on Friday the 28th and that Wednesday morning on the 2nd. Everything else is just a waiting game.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon night, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 7 | NW 11 | NNW 10 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 8 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
88 | 57 | 66 | 13 | 52 | 62 | 88 | 222 | 268 | 448 | 490 | 200 | 173 | 277 | 316 | 197 | 231 | 257 | 113 | 59 | 68 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:20AM2.98m | 7:33PM2.93m | 8:00AM2.80m | 8:16PM2.69m | 8:49AM2.63m | 9:13PM2.48m | 9:55AM2.50m | 10:36PM2.35m | 11:23AM2.48m | 00:13AM2.37m | 12:43PM2.59m | 1:23AM2.50m | 1:39PM2.77m | 2:09AM2.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:18PM1.08m | 1:40AM1.10m | 2:01PM1.29m | 2:23AM1.32m | 2:57PM1.47m | 3:22AM1.50m | 4:20PM1.58m | 4:49AM1.60m | 6:00PM1.55m | 6:18AM1.55m | 7:10PM1.41m | 7:18AM1.41m | 7:57PM1.22m | ||||||||
6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 29 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 11 | W 9 | W 9 | NNW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 9 | NNW 7 | W 8 | NNW 6 |
88 | 57 | 66 | 13 | 52 | 62 | 88 | 59 | 268 | 57 | 59 | 200 | 65 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 6 | 113 | 12 | 68 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | NW 5 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 10 | W 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | W 9 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 8 | SW 13 | W 8 |
12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 22 | 57 | 51 | 38 | 21 | 21 | 41 | 39 | 20 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | SW 14 | NW 4 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | — | SW 13 |
11 | 10 | 24 | 11 | 33 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 3 | S 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | NW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 10 | NW 10 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | — | NNW 7 | — |
— | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 222 | 170 | 448 | 490 | 120 | 173 | 277 | 316 | 197 | 231 | 257 | — | 59 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 151 | 2 | 104 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 100 | 329 | 120 | 19 | 38 | 247 | 151 | 312 | 191 | 18 | 0 | 168 | 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.











