Amoreira - surf spot statistics

Amoreira in Portugal offers surfable conditions year-round, but the best months for quality waves and favorable wind conditions are typically from October through March. During this period, ground swell dominates (64-90%), providing powerful, clean waves with mean swell sizes ranging from 1.5m to 2.0m, peaking in January and December. Wind conditions are far from perfect, but late autumn and winter still have the highest percentages of good winds (22-25%) compared to the rest of the year. The worst months for surfing are June, July, and August, when wind swell becomes predominant (70-81%), wave size drops to 1.0-1.1m, and bad wind conditions prevail (83-84%). Spring (April-May) and early autumn (September) serve as transition periods, with declining ground swell influence but manageable wave heights. If you’re looking for consistency and size, target the winter months, but be prepared for challenging winds—October and November offer a slightly better balance of swell and wind conditions compared to deep winter. Summer is best avoided unless you’re after small, less predictable waves.

December at Amoreira offers solid surf conditions with an average swell height of 2.0m and a consistent period of 12.4s, delivering powerful, well-formed waves. The dominant swell directions are W-NW, with the highest frequency of rideable waves (1.5-2.5m) coming from WNW and NW—these provide the best quality, accounting for a significant portion of days. Smaller, less ideal swells (0.5-1.5m) occasionally arrive from the E-SE but are rare. Wind conditions are variable, with only 22% of days offering ideal offshore or light cross-shore winds (typically NNE-NE or E-ESE). Strong onshore winds (W-WSW) are more common, particularly in the 10-30kph range, which can disrupt wave quality. For experienced surfers, December is decent, with the best sessions occurring when NW swells coincide with lighter NNE-E winds, creating clean, head-high+ waves. However, wind luck is key—expect choppier conditions on many days.