Tuncurry Breakwall • Statistics for October

October: The Calm Before the Storm

October signals the return of the onshore trade regime, but the swell window is still loaded. Ideal wind falls to 25 percent, and the NNE/NE trades reassert themselves with 29.9 percent combined, while offshore winds from the SSW-SW-WSW-W sector total 21.1 percent. The average swell height is 5.6ft (1.7m) and period is 8.7s-slightly shorter, but there is plenty of energy, with most waves in the 3-6ft (1-1.8m) range. The directional distribution is a classic spring mix: SSE (16.8) and S (15.0) still lead, but NE (14.2), ENE (9.2) and E (8.1) combine for a healthy 31.5 percent from the optimal window (37.1 including NNE). East Coast Lows become more likely this month, and they can throw substantial E/NE swell toward Tuncurry. If you catch one under a westerly change, you'll get the biggest, cleanest surf of the season. Water has warmed to 19.8°C and air temps to 19.0°C, so spring is officially in the air.