Conditions at Cote des Basques in October
October: The Season Fires Back Up
The North Atlantic roars to life in October, and Cote des Basques immediately responds. Average swell height jumps to 4ft (1.3m) and the average period climbs to 11.3 seconds, with WNW and NW directions sharing the load almost equally, 41 and 42 percent respectively. Crucially, the height distribution shifts upward: the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) and 1.5-2m (5-7ft) classes combine for roughly 46 percent of the total, with a sprinkling of 2-2.5m (6-8ft) sets as well.
The ideal wind window jumps to 40 percent. The wind rose is more interesting than summer, with S and SSE flow reappearing alongside W and WNW. This is the classic autumn mix: the Azores High is still strong enough to keep some warmth around, but deepening Atlantic lows are sending clean long-period swells toward the Basque coast. Water temp is 18.4°C and air averages 16.1°C. October is a transition month that can deliver some of the best combinations of size and warmth all year.
Average Spot conditions at Cote des Basques in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cote des Basques 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 Cote des Basques for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cote des Basques 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 Cote des Basques.