Guarita • Statistics for October

October: Spring Trades and Raw Energy

October is the low point for clean conditions at Guarita. Average swell is still a healthy 1.7m (5.5-6ft), but the period slips to 8.6s and ideal wind bottoms out at 29%. The swell rose is dominated by ENE 22.2% and E 20.5%, with ESE 14.1%, SE 12.6%, SSE 11.7%, S 8.9%, NE 2.2%, and SSW 1.4%. Most of the energy is short- to mid-period easterly windswell generated by the strengthening South Atlantic high and the associated trade winds. The wind rose tells the story: NE is 23.4%, ENE is 14.1%, and NNE is 12%, so together those three quadrants are nearly half of all wind observations. SSW/SW afternoon sea breezes also kick up, and NNW offshore flow drops to just 3.9%. The result is often raw, lumpy, crumbly surf, although the sheer amount of water can offer heavy but difficult peaks for bigger boards. Air temp rises to 17.8°C, water temp to 18.8°C, and October rain averages 5.14mm/day. Not the best month, but if you find a morning NW flow and an E/ESE swell, there are still waves to be had.