Pedrogao

Best Surf Season (October - March)

Pedrogão's west-facing beach sits directly in the firing line of the North Atlantic storm track during autumn and winter. As the Azores High retreats and the polar front migrates south, strong extratropical cyclones roll toward Portugal, sending consistent WNW and NW groundswell into the coast. From October through March, average wave heights run 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) and average wave periods sit in the 11.4-13.1s range, which is powerful, long-period surf. The key to quality at Pedrogão is wind: when high pressure builds in the wake of a storm, offshore ONO/O/OSO/SO (east-to-southeast) winds groom the surf, and the data show ideal winds 25-34% of the time during these months. Water temperatures are 14-18°C (57-64°F), so it is winter wetsuit territory, but the open-Atlantic power makes it well worth it.