Almagreira - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic delivers its full fury during this window, with average swell heights consistently above 2.5m and periods often exceeding 12s. Powerful extratropical cyclones track across the basin, firing long-period NW to NNW groundswells straight into Almagreira's NNW-facing beach. The winter months also see the highest percentage of ideal offshore winds—peaking at 31% in December—as high pressure over the Iberian Peninsula often sets up a southerly flow. This is the prime time for pumping barrels and firing walls, especially when a strong Azores High aligns with a deep low northwest of Scotland. The NAO tends to be positive, enhancing the storm track and bringing consistent swell. Expect heavy sets in the 2-2.5m range and occasional XL days when the period pushes past 15s.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

Transition months offer a mixed bag. April sees average swell drop to 2.1m with periods around 11s, but the dominant NW swell direction still contributes over 25% of the waves. However, northerly winds become more frequent, limiting clean conditions to just 16% of the time. September marks the start of the autumn ramp-up, with swell heights rebounding to 1.7m and periods increasing to 10.5s. While ideal wind percentages remain low (14%), the first big lows of the season can produce solid groundswells with sunny skies if a southerly breeze sets in. These months are rippable but inconsistent—watch for the right synoptic setup.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer brings a dramatic lull. Average swell heights drop to 1.5-1.8m and periods fall into the average 8-9s range, offering mostly fun-sized to and groveling waves. The main culprit is the Azores High, which blocks Atlantic storm activity and drives persistent northerly winds. In June and July, northerly winds blow over 40% of the time, creating onshore, choppy conditions that destroy wave quality. Ideal offshore winds plummet to 4-9%. Swell is dominated by short-period NNW windswell from local sea breezes. While there are occasional punchy windows when a rare southerly wind aligns, summer is generally a time to travel or take up another sport. The few rideable days come from small NW pulses that sneak through the high pressure.

May: The Summer Slump Begins

May marks the transition to summer's low-energy window. Average swell height falls to 1.8m and period drops to 9.9s—average and punchy at best. The swell is still dominated by NNW (29.9%), NW (28.4%), and WNW (17.4%), but these are increasingly short-period windswells from local northerly winds. The wind data shows a dramatic increase in N winds (28.9%), with strong 20-30kph gusts common. Ideal offshore wind plummets to only 13%. The result is a lot of choppy, low energy surf. Days with clean waves are rare and come from a southerly wind shift that usually precedes a weak low pressure system. When it comes together, expect small to fun-sized 0.5-1m waves with a longboard-friendly shape. May is a great time to explore other Portuguese spots with better summer exposure or to focus on surfing in the early mornings before the wind picks up.