Conditions at Porto da Cruz in September
September: Autumn Return of the Groundswell
September is the bridge back to consistency. Average wave height climbs to around 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m), and the period stretches to 10.5s, so the ocean becomes more organized. NNW once again dominates at 40.4%, with N at 13.8% and NNE at 16.7%, giving the strongest direct-exposure share since May. Wind is still mostly from the NNE at 30.6% and NE at 15.4%, but ideal offshore wind improves to 17% as early autumn storms begin driving S-SW flow across Madeira. The first significant groundswells of the season can light up Porto da Cruz with clean 5-8ft (1.5-2.4m) waves, especially when a low forms near the Azores and drags a cold front through. Water temperature peaks at 23.6°C, air averages 22.6°C, and rainfall remains modest at 0.51mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Porto da Cruz in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Porto da Cruz during September. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Porto da Cruz for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Porto da Cruz for September. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Porto da Cruz.