Matadouro - surf spot statistics

Matadouro, Portugal, is a surf spot primarily powered by consistent ground swells, especially in the winter months, making it a reliable destination for experienced surfers. The best conditions for wave quality and favorable winds occur from November to February, with December and January standing out as peak months. During this period, ground swell dominates (84–91%), providing clean, powerful waves averaging 2.2 meters, ideal for high-performance surfing. Wind conditions are also more favorable, with good offshore winds occurring around 34% of the time, though onshore winds still prevail (66–69%). As spring arrives (March–May), ground swell frequency decreases while wind swell becomes more prominent, reducing wave quality and size (1.4–1.9 meters). Summer (June–August) sees the poorest conditions, with weak wind swell dominating (73–83%) and minimal ground swell (15–26%), resulting in smaller waves (1.1–1.2 meters) and consistently bad onshore winds (86–88%). Early autumn (September–October) marks a transitional phase, with ground swell gradually returning (46–63%) and wave size improving (1.3–1.7 meters), though wind conditions remain suboptimal (71–79% bad winds). For surfers prioritising size, power, and cleaner conditions, the winter months are unmatched, while intermediate surfers may find late autumn or early spring sessions more manageable. Avoid summer unless small, messy waves are acceptable.

December at Matadouro offers solid surfing conditions with an average swell height of 2.2m and a favorable period of 12.5s, producing powerful, well-spaced waves. The dominant swell directions are from the NW, WNW, and W, with the highest frequency (11.53%) of 1.5-2m waves coming from WNW. Larger waves (over 2.5m) also occur, primarily from WSW (12%) and SW (6%), though they’re less frequent. Wind conditions are ideal for surfing 34% of the time, with the cleanest sessions likely under light ENE-E winds (5-20kph). Stronger winds from the N-NW quadrant (20-40kph) can create choppier conditions, especially when combined with bigger swells. Overall, expect consistent, mid-sized waves with occasional larger days, best surfed on NW-WSW swells with light offshore or side-offshore ENE-E winds. Advanced surfers will find the most opportunities, particularly when larger WNW-WSW swells align with favorable winds.