Hydrographic Institute Records Maximum Wave Height at Nazaré Coastal Buoy

The Hydrographic Institute of the Portuguese Navy, through the MONIZEE system buoy network, recorded a maximum wave height of 17 meters in the early hours of January 28 at the Nazaré coastal buoy.

Between January 25 and 28, 2025, as Storm Hermínia passed, a significant worsening of sea conditions was observed along the northwest coast of mainland Portugal, particularly at the buoys located in Leixões and Nazaré.

The maximum recorded wave heights were as follows:

- The Leixões oceanic buoy recorded a maximum height of 15 meters and a significant wave height of 9.5 meters on the night of January 27.

- The Leixões coastal buoy recorded a maximum height of 16.2 meters and a significant wave height of 9 meters on the night of January 27.

- The Nazaré oceanic buoy recorded a maximum height of 15.6 meters and a significant wave height of 9.4 meters in the early hours of January 28.

- The Nazaré coastal buoy also recorded a significant wave height of 9.9 meters on the night of January 27.

Currently, the Hydrographic Institute operates, within the MONIZEE system framework (https://www.hidrografico.pt/iprojeto/3), a set of coastal ocean monitoring networks off mainland Portugal. These include in situ monitoring networks (multiparametric buoys, directional wave buoys, and coastal tide gauge stations), which measure various oceanographic and meteorological parameters at their respective locations, as well as remote monitoring networks (coastal HF radar stations), which measure key oceanographic parameters (current velocity and wave activity) in adjacent maritime areas.

Stay updated on sea conditions at https://geomar.hidrografico.pt or via the Hidrografico+ app.