NAZARÉ, Portugal (Tuesday, November 13, 2018) - The World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) has issued a Yellow Alert for the Nazaré Challenge in Nazaré, Portugal to potentially run on Friday, November 16, 2018. With a large WNW swell headed toward the region with favorable winds, there is high confidence that the event could run at the end of the week.
"We anticipate a great swell hitting Nazaré later this week," said Mike Parsons, WSL Big Wave Tour Commissioner. "A WNW swell is moving toward the region and expected to hit Praia do Norte with ideal winds on Friday, November 16. We have issued a Yellow Alert to potentially run on Friday. We are closely monitoring the conditions, and if all continues to align, we will go Green 48 hours prior."
Parsons and the WSL Big Wave team will continue to carefully track the swell and conditions with the aim of issuing a 'Green Alert' 48 hours ahead of the event start.
Surfline, forecast partner of the WSL, is calling for:
A developing storm near Greenland is expected to produce a strong WNW swell for Friday. Confidence is medium to high for a swell to provide good surf throughout the day. We expect to see wave face size in the 20-30' range through the day on Friday, with the very largest sets of the morning up to 35'.
While this isn't a giant swell, especially by Nazare standards, local wind and conditions look about as good as it gets on Friday: light+ offshore ESE wind through the morning, trending more SE (still offshore) for the early afternoon hours, generally below 10 knots. Furthermore, the two previous days (Wednesday-Thursday) are also expected to see light offshore wind and small swell, which should mean conditions are extra clean on Friday.
2018/2019 Nazaré Challenge Invitees
Billy Kemper, Kai Lenny, Ian Walsh, Makuakai Rothman, Lucas Chianca, Jamie Mitchell, Tom Lowe, Alex Botelho, Greg Long, Natxo Gonzalez, Will Skudin, Grant Baker, Nathan Florence, Jojo Roper, Russell Bierke, João De Macedo, Rodrigo Koxa, Antonio Silva, Hugo Vau, Nic Von Rupp, João Guedes, Three WSL BWT Invitees TBD by WSL BWT Commissioner
Alternates: Ryan Hipwood, Andrew Cotton, Tom Butler, Axi Muniain
If called on, the WSL Nazaré Challenge will e broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL's Facebook page. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners.
The WSL Big Wave Tour is proudly supported by Surfline, and Corona, with a special thanks to Nazaré Challenge partners Jogos Santa Casa, Visit Portugal, Portuguese Waves, The City of Nazaré, MEO, Hertz, and Praia do Norte.