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One of the platforms that answers these questions is Windguru. This private service offers weather forecasts, focusing on wind estimation. Save analysis time, avoid mistakes in your own forecasts, and enjoy the sea to the fullest.



The color scale ranges from white (lowest wind intensity) to dark blue (highest wind intensity).


Wind Speed and Gusts


The platform allows you to read the wind strength and direction in several units: knots, km/h, m/s, mi/h and bft.

Reading in knots, it is known that the best conditions for surfing meet when there is no wind or when its expression is weak. This means that the recommended values oscillate up to 10 knots.

The gusts are an average of wind, which manifests itself without continuity and blows with an intensity higher than that which was in force. This phenomenon has, as a rule, a duration of 20 seconds, not having so much influence on the choice of spot to surf.


Wind Direction

It is assumed that the direction that offers the best conditions for surfers is the wind from the land, or Offshore Winds. In the Algarve region, when the wind has a northerly influence, the so-called "nortada", the sea conditions become favorable for the creation of deeper waves creating, in the best scenario, tubular waves, perfect for surfing.




Waviness


The swell indicates the significant height (face) of the wave in meters. This factor will change according to the intensity and direction of the wind, the type of wave, and the type of bottom; parameters that will define how big the wave will reach the shore.

But how do you know if the waves are of sufficient height for surfing? It is important to relate the size of the wave and its direction to the wind speed. Thus, the more knots it has, the more km/m it travels, promoting the movement of the water masses and originating consistent waves for surfing.



Wave Period

The wave period is the time, measured in seconds, that elapses between one wave and another. When the period between crests is less than 10 seconds the waves have less water mass and the height when they reach the shore is usually lower than the forecast. It is common to say that when the period is above 11/12 seconds "you can start surfing", since the waves have more time to form with quality. It is important to keep in mind that the more energy/mass of water the waves have, the greater the probability of currents and swells. This can promote the unexpected formation of larger than expected waves.



Wave Direction

The direction of the waves is a parameter to be observed, although it does not vary much. We should be aware of small variations in direction that can generate very good waves without us expecting them.