Cortegaoa seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
Autumn and winter deliver the meat of the season at Cortegaoa. As the North Atlantic storm track barrels southward, the Portuguese coast becomes a magnet for long-period WNW and NW groundswells. Average wave heights climb to 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) with periods in the 12-13s window, and with a west-facing exposure, Cortegaoa lights up. The wind regime turns more favorable too - easterly and southeasterly breezes blow offshore more often, ironing out the faces and keeping the peaks clean. Water temps hover between 14 and 17°C (57-63°F), so a 4/3 wetsuit is the call, but the payoff is consistent, powerful surf that can reach XXL during Atlantic swell events.
Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)
Spring and early autumn bring a transition. The North Atlantic still sends waves, but the size and period drop off; averages are more in the 3-4ft (1-1.3m) range with periods around 10-11s. The northerly trade winds pick up, increasing the onshore component and reducing the percentage of truly clean days. Still, there are plenty of fun, rippable sessions, especially when a late-season storm sneaks through and the morning easterlies align.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
Summer is the quietest stretch at Cortegaoa. The Azores High settles in, nudging the storm tracks away and leaving small, short-period NW windswell - often in the 3ft (0.9m) range and only occasionally bigger. The prevailing NNW/NW winds are almost constantly onshore, so the percentages of surfable waves are low. If you get lucky with a light easterly, you can find fun, groveling waves, but overall this is a time for beach days, not barrels.