Northern winter
- Months
- Oct – Mar
- Feeds
- Europe, Morocco, Hawaii
Seasons
Month by Month, Ocean by Ocean
Swell isn't random. It follows storm tracks, and storm tracks follow the seasons. Learn the pattern once and you'll never again book a week in Portugal in August expecting waves.
The season strip
Each hemisphere's winter is surf season for the coasts facing its storms.
Southern winter
- Months
- Apr – Oct
- Feeds
- Indo, Maldives, C. America
Monsoon flip
- Months
- Varies
- Feeds
- Sri Lanka, India
Typhoon window
- Months
- Aug – Nov
- Feeds
- Philippines, Japan
Month table
Typical patterns, not guarantees. Water temperatures are rough ranges across the best months.
| Region | Best months | Shoulder | Usually small | Water | Wetsuit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal (Ericeira, Peniche) | Sep – Nov | Dec – Apr | Jun – Aug | 14 – 19 °C | 4/3, 3/2 early autumn |
| SW France (Hossegor) | Sep – Nov | Apr – May | Jul – Aug | 15 – 21 °C | 3/2 to 4/3 |
| Ireland west coast | Sep – Nov | Feb – Apr | Jun – Aug | 10 – 14 °C | 5/4 hooded |
| Morocco (Taghazout) | Oct – Mar | Apr, Sep | Jun – Aug | 17 – 20 °C | 3/2 |
| Canary Islands | Oct – Mar | Apr – May | Jul – Aug | 18 – 22 °C | 3/2 or shorty |
| Costa Rica Pacific | May – Nov | Dec – Apr | Rarely flat | 27 – 29 °C | None |
| Mexico (Puerto Escondido) | May – Sep | Apr, Oct | Dec – Feb | 27 – 29 °C | None |
| Bali (Bukit) | Apr – Oct | Mar, Nov | Dec – Feb | 26 – 28 °C | None, rash vest |
| Mentawai Islands | Apr – Oct | Mar, Nov | Dec – Feb | 28 – 30 °C | None |
| Maldives | Mar – Oct | Feb, Nov | Dec – Jan | 28 – 30 °C | None |
| Sri Lanka east (Arugam Bay) | May – Oct | Apr, Nov | Dec – Mar | 27 – 29 °C | None |
| Sri Lanka south (Weligama) | Nov – Apr | Oct, May | Jun – Sep | 27 – 29 °C | None |
| South Africa (J-Bay) | Jun – Aug | Apr – May, Sep | Dec – Feb | 16 – 20 °C | 4/3 |
| Philippines (Siargao) | Aug – Nov | Dec – Feb | Apr – Jun | 28 – 30 °C | None |
Reading the seasons like a local
Why does swell follow the seasons?
Waves worth travelling for are born in mid-latitude storms. Those storms are strongest in each hemisphere's winter. The North Atlantic churns from October to March; the Southern Ocean below Africa, Australia and South America does the same from April to October. Coasts facing those storms get the energy.
What is swell period and why should I care?
Period is the time between waves, in seconds. A 6-second wind swell is short, messy and weak. A 14-second groundswell has travelled thousands of kilometres and arrives organised and powerful. When you read forecasts on services like Surfline or Windy, period tells you more about quality than height does.
Why does the "best month" sometimes disappoint?
Seasons tell you probability, not certainty. Even in October, Portugal can sit under high pressure for a week. That's why we suggest trips of ten days or more in shoulder months, and always building in a flat-day plan.
Is wind as important as swell?
Yes. Offshore wind grooms waves; onshore wind wrecks them. Many trade-wind coasts are glassy at dawn and blown out by noon, so plan to surf early. Places with multiple coastline angles, like Peniche or Fuerteventura, are forgiving because something faces away from the wind.
Should I chase the biggest months?
Only if your skills do. Peak months bring bigger waves and bigger crowds. Many intermediates have a better time in shoulder months: smaller, cleaner surf, cheaper rooms, friendlier lineups.
Got your month? Now pick the coast and check the beach guides for parking and lifeguard cover.