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Conditions at Playa Carmen in October
October: Big Westerly Swell with a Transition in the Air
October is a transitional month. The average surf height remains solid at 4-5ft (1.4m), but the average period dips slightly to 12.7s. The swell mix changes, with SSW at 67.9% and SW at 29.7%, creating more west in the swell than earlier in the wet season. There is still a substantial amount of 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) surf around 36% of the time, plus a handful of bigger 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) waves, so the beach still sees serious energy.
Wind is still the offender. Ideal offshore conditions are only 34%, and the wind rose is dominated by WSW 10.0%, WNW 9.8%, NW 9.3%, and W 8.9%, all of which can add cross or onshore texture. October is also the wettest month with 10.01 mm/day of rain. Air temperature is 26.8°C and water temperature has dropped to 27.8°C. As the month wears on, you can sense the dry-season trade winds trying to return, and the clean windows become more frequent.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Carmen in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Carmen during October. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Playa Carmen for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Carmen for October. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Playa Carmen.