Long Beach • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

Long Beach is at the mercy of the North Pacific from autumn through early spring, and that is exactly when this west-facing stretch of Vancouver Island produces its best surf. Average swell heights run between 2.0m and 2.6m (6.5-8.5ft) from October through March, while wave periods stay in the powerful 11.7-12.5s range. The dominant swell directions - SW, WSW, W and WNW - are almost perfectly aligned with the beach's exposure, and offshore NE to ESE winds are most frequent during these months. Ideal conditions sit in the 32-40 percent range, making this the most consistent window for clean, well-ordered groundswell.

Fair Surf Season (April and September)

April and September are transitional months when the ocean is figuring out whether it wants to be summer or winter. Surf remains fun-sized - average heights around 1.5-1.9m (4.9-6.2ft) - and the swell direction is still excellent, but wind becomes more variable. Offshore flow drops in April and only begins to return in September, so the best sessions tend to be early morning or tied to passing fronts. These are great months for chasing less crowded, manageable waves before the heavy winter groundswell locks in.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer at Long Beach is the quiet season. Average swell heights fall to 1.2-1.5m (3.9-4.9ft) and ideal wind scores dip to 13-20 percent as the North Pacific High pumps onshore WNW winds. The swell direction remains remarkably good - the W and WSW windows dominate all summer - but the lack of size and persistent onshores keep quality inconsistent. Expect small, sea-breeze-affected waves with occasional clean dawn sessions, especially when an easterly outflow sneaks in.