Storm Kristin in Nazaré: Impact, Solidarity and Recovery

Storm Kristin, which hit central Portugal on January 28, 2026, caused severe damage in Nazaré, leading to a state of calamity being declared in the municipality. Intense winds, persistent rain and extremely rough seas caused damage to homes, infrastructure and essential services. There were pine forests with thousands of trees snapped in half!

This was a rare event. There is memory of a similar phenomenon around 85 years ago, in 1941, known as the “1941 Cyclone”, which also caused major devastation in the region. 👉 See more information about the 1941 cyclone

Solidarity with Those Affected

In response to the damage recorded, a support campaign was created to help those affected, especially people who suffered major losses in their homes or who require additional social support. The initiative was launched by big wave surfer Nic von Rupp, whom we trust, with the aim of channeling direct help to those who need it most.

👉 Contribute to the GoFundMe campaign

Also watch the recent video update on the status of the campaign:

Surfer Garrett McNamara also publicly called for collaboration and unity in Nazaré’s recovery, reinforcing the importance of community support during this difficult time.

Appeal from Nazaré City Council

Following the damage caused by the storm and the declaration of calamity, Nazaré City Council recommended that no giant wave surfing (tow-in) should take place during this period, in order to keep all available resources focused on resolving the problems caused by the storm.

The municipality also warned that conditions were not in place to ensure the safety of surfers, calling for efforts to remain focused on the town’s recovery.

Although giant waves were recorded, it appears that no one entered the water. Sea conditions were also marked by stormy weather, irregular swell and a lack of wave quality.

More official information can be found here: Nazaré City Council statement.

More Than Three Weeks Later

More than three weeks after the fateful day, the situation is finally beginning to stabilize. Although there are still homes with structural problems, occasional power outages in some areas and difficulties for several families, many volunteers actively contributed to rebuilding and cleaning the affected areas.

We were also directly affected, having been without electricity and water for several days. It was not an easy period.

On February 20, big waves surfing was once again recorded, a sign that Nazaré is gradually returning to normal.

Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo Reopens to the Public

The Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, which had been temporarily closed, is now open again to visitors. Inside, tourists can see the “Surfer Wall”, a project consisting of a permanent exhibition of surfboards offered to Nazaré by the athletes, displayed inside the fort.

Looking Ahead

We hope everything returns to normal soon and that big waves continue to be surfed in Nazaré, with tourists watching this impressive force of nature.

There will still be good waves to surf during this big waves season. We will continue to update the forecast and monitor the evolution of sea conditions.