Caldera

Best Surf Season (May - October)

Caldera sits exposed to a WSW-facing swell window, and the directional data could hardly be more consistent: SSW swell is the dominant signal every single month of the year. During May through October, the average wave period climbs to 14.0-14.5s, placing most swell in the 'powerful, long period' bracket, and the combination of SSW/SW directions is at its most persistent. This is the closest thing to a best season in statistical terms. However, there is a massive catch: average swell height never escapes the 0.7-1ft (0.2-0.3m) range, and only a tiny fraction of the distribution ever reaches 2-3ft (0.5-1m). The ITCZ is also parked overhead during these months, bringing rain and a wind regime that is often onshore from the south, so surface conditions tend to be lumpy. Still, when a long-period SSW pulse lines up with a light offshore morning, the potential is there for small, clean, longboard-friendly waves.