Wavelength Surf Magazine – since 1981

Know When To Go: The Wavelength Guide To Surf Seasons Around The World

Luke Gartside

As the murky depths of winter envelope us here in Europe, thoughts naturally turn to overseas surf missions.

Perhaps you’ve already got a destination or month in mind, or perhaps you’re still very much in the spin the globe stage of planning. Either way, we’re here to help with this guide to swell seasons at some of the most visited surf destinations around the world.

While we’ve tried to make sure the info here is accurate, we’ve also aimed to keep things brief and manageable. Of course, regional variations and the complexity of the earth’s swell generating weather systems mean this guide is by no means comprehensive, but it’s a great way to get started with figuring where to go and when.

When to surf Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is split into two primary surfing regions; the south-east and the south-west.

In the south-west, the biggest swells arrive with the monsoon season between April and October, however, this period is also plagued by strong onshore winds and rain. The dry season, from Nov to March, sees an average of 3 foot of swell accompanied mostly by offshore winds from the northeast.

Best time to go? For 3 foot and offshore conditions with less chance of rain choose Jan and Feb.

In the south-east, the biggest swells, which average 4 foot, arrive between May and September, with offshore winds from the west and hot, dry weather. October to April generally sees smaller swells (ranging from 1 to 3 foot) accompanied by onshore winds, with rain from October to January.

Best time to go? For consistent four foot and offshore conditions and balmy temps choose July and August.

Photo Tom Bennett // WSL

When to surf the Maldives

The Maldives receives the most swell from late February to October. During this time the surf sits generally in the 3-6 foot range and is accompanied largely by offshore winds from the north-west.

Best time to go? For consistent 3-4 foot waves, light offshore winds and no rain, choose March and April.

Photo @lugarts

When to surf the Canaries

Lanzarote receives consistent swell from October to March, with the winter months between November and February seeing the biggest swells hit. However, the island is plagued by year-round trade winds from the NE, meaning the inconsistent breaks along the east coast are often blown out. While the north-west and west coasts offer more options on the prevailing north-easterlies, most of the best waves really want an easterly or southeasterly which are fairly rare.

Best time to go? For the best chance of light, more easterly winds and air temps in the 20s, choose November and December.

Fuerteventura is similarly consistent from October to March and biggest between November and February with an average of 4-6 foot of swell hitting the shallow reefs. The island receives the same NE trades as Lanzarote. However, Fuerte offers more options for those with a car and there is somewhere to surf on most swell/ wind combinations outside of the summer months.

Best time to go? For the best chance of light, more easterly winds and air temps in the 20s, choose November and December.

When to surf Morocco

Like everywhere in the North Atlantic, Morocco receives the biggest, most consistent swells between November and March. The prevailing wind also blows from the NE from November to February, creating clean conditions at most spots throughout central Morocco, including the tourist’s favourites around Taghazout. Swells generally arrive in the 5-foot range through the winter, before dropping away into spring and summer.

Best time to go? For consistent 4-5 foot waves, comfortable temps and reliable offshores (around Taghazout), choose Jan and Feb.

When to surf Mexico

Mexico receives swells from both the North and South Pacifics oceans, with the latter providing bigger, more powerful waves. In north and central Baja the biggest swells hit from September to March, before heights drop off slightly in the summer. However, even then, 3-foot of swell is the average. The region is blessed with near-constant light northerly offshores or glassy conditions throughout the winter, with a light sea breeze coming up in the afternoons in the summer months.

Best time to go? For consistent 4-6 foot waves, morning offshores, comfortable air temps and water temps that don’t require boots, choose November and December.

Further south, on the mainland coast, the biggest swells arrive in hurricane season, from April to October, accompanied by unpredictable winds. While there’s an increased chance of dead onshore westerly winds when the swell is pumping, clean conditions are common too. The winds are much lighter and often offshore between November and Feb, and although the swells are generally smaller and weaker, they still hover in the 3-4 foot range.

Best time to go? For consistent 3-4 foot waves, balmy air and water temps, minimal rain and the best chance of light winds and offshores, choose November and December in Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero or January and February in Oaxaca.

Photo Lewis Pinder // Ticket To Ride

When to surf Costa Rica

As with much of Central America’s Pacific coast, the biggest swells hit Costa Rica in the rainy season from May to November (although there’s still plenty of sun in north and central areas) when average swell heights hover around the 4-5 foot range. The wind generally blows offshore in the mornings before swinging at lunch. December to April offers similarly favourable wind conditions, with the waves generally hanging around the 2-foot mark.

Best time to go? For consistent 3 foot waves with light offshores and minimal rain March and April are your best bet, or if you’d prefer slightly bigger waves, but with more rain, May and June.

On the Carribean coast, the main season from December to March sees a regular procession of storm swells rolling in off the north Atlantic, arriving in the 3-4 foot range. Then there’s another short season of 2-3 foot swell, from June to August, which arrives with morning offshores.

Best time to go? For regular 3 foot waves and morning offshores, choose July.

When to surf California

California is huge, with many distinctive surfing regions with their own regional variations. However, very generally speaking September to March sees regular swells, in the 3 to 50 foot range. The summer sees a mix of southerly wind swell, and smaller SW storm swells which average between 1-4 foot. In the winter, the dominant winds are from the NW, however offshore and glassy days are also common. The summer sees light offshores or glassy mornings followed by an onshore sea breeze, which arrives in the late morning. In the south, Santa Ana winds – which are most common in late summer and early autumn- bring offshores which last all day.

Best time to go? For consistent swells in the 3-6 foot range, nice weather and morning offshores, September and October are your best bet.

Photo Luke Gartside

When to surf Bali

Bali receives a near-constant supply of swell throughout the year, however, the biggest waves hit between April and October, with swells averaging 7-8 foot. The ESE trade winds blow throughout this season offering clean conditions along much of Bali’s west coast, including the famed Bukit peninsula. The wet season, from Dec to March offers lighter winds, generally from the NW and SW, accompanied by an average swell height of 5 foot.

Best time to go? For consistent 6 foot swells with favourable winds along the west coast, choose July and August. Or, for the chance at scoring days on both west and east coasts with offshore winds (and less crowd) choose March.

Photo Tim Nunn

When to surf the Mentawais

Known for their super high level of consistency the Mentawai islands get almost non-stop swells in the 6-12 foot range between March and November, with the biggest swells hitting from May to August. The winds blow predominantly from the SE at this time. Early and late season offers slightly less consistent 5-6 foot swells, usually accompanied by light northwesterly winds. However, the Mentawais’ main allure, along with the concentration of world-class waves, is its ability to throw up fun waves somewhere on most wind and wave combinations.

Best time to go? For non-stop solid, long period swells and light favourable winds, choose July and August.

https://youtu.be/QLT1-9hDsZc

When to surf Oahu, Hawaii

On the north shore of Oahu, swells hit from November to April, but December and January are the biggest (and busiest) months. The prevailing wind is from the E during peak season, but S or SW Kona winds are also common. Late and early seasons offer slightly less consistent swell, averaging in the 4-6 foot range, and a bit more NE wind.

From May to September the north shore is generally flat, but the south shore sees regular pulses in the 3-8 foot range with the prevailing winds blowing offshore. June to September sees occasional hurricanes and tropical storms sending swells in the 10-35 foot range spinning towards Oahu’s east, south, and west-facing coastlines.

Best time to go? It really depends on what you’re after. If you want to score the very best of the north shore, it’s December and January. If you want to score fun waves with less crowds along the seven-mile miracle, consider February. Or, if you want clean, lined up 2-3 foot days on the south shore, balmy weather and non-stop offshores, go between April and October.

Photo Luke Gartside

When to surf New Zealand

New Zealand is made up of two islands; the north and the south. On the north island, the west coast sees consistent swells, averaging in the 4-12 foot range, hitting year-round. However, the most consistent window is from March to August, when average swell height is between 6-8 foot, with dominant winds from the NW and SW, although offshores are also common. While the period from September to February sees regular 3-5 foot swells, there are occasional cyclones which produce much bigger waves. Morning offshores are also common during this time. On the east coast, the biggest most consistent swells hit from April to October, averaging 5 foot. The dominant wind blows from the SW in the winter months, but often swings W or NW, producing clean conditions. The summer sees an average of 3 foot of swell, plus the occasional cyclone, with variable winds, blowing mostly from the eastern quadrant.

Best time to go? For west coast classics like Raglan, April is warm and consistent, with regular swells in the 6 foot range and a good chance of offshores. For the east coast spots around Gisborne, September and October serve up regular swells in the 4-6 foot range and reliable offshores.

The South Island receives swell all year round, averaging 4-6 feet from March to October. The wind is variable, but strong winds often blow from the W, which provides clean conditions along the east coast. Summer sees an average of three-foot of swell with dominant NE winds, which are offshore along much of the south coast. Nov, Dec, March and April generally offer consistent swells in the 4-5 foot range and less wild, cold conditions than the winter.

Best time to go? March and April offer slightly less punishing water temps than the rest of the year (still only 11 degrees C) plus regular swell in the 3-4 foot range and favourable winds for the spots around Dunedin.

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