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The Ranch seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (November - January)
The Ranch enters its prime time from November through January. This SSW-facing beach needs southwest window swell and offshore wind, and winter delivers both. Strong high pressure over North America sets up frequent offshore flow from the north through east-northeast, while the broader Pacific storm track sends consistent, long-period SW/WSW groundswell into the window. Average wave heights sit around 4ft (1.2m) with 13.4-second periods, and ideal wind rates of 50-55 percent make these months the most reliable stretch all year for clean, glassy, well-shaped waves.
Fair Surf Season (February - April and September - October)
The two shoulder seasons are a trade-off between power and cleanliness. February to April sees wave height slowly grow from 1.2m to 1.4m (4-5ft) as southern hemisphere energy begins to mix in, but onshore southwesterly winds increase, dropping ideal conditions from 47 percent in February to 32 percent in April. September and October, meanwhile, bring the biggest swells of the year - September averages 1.7m (5.6ft) - as tropical cyclone activity and southern hemi storms collide, yet the wind stays unstable and rainfall is heavy. When the wind does clock offshore after a disturbance, these shoulder months can serve up powerful, excellent surf.
Low Surf Season (May - August)
May through August is the low season for wave quality, even though swell size remains healthy. The intertropical convergence zone drifts north and the eastern Pacific trade-wind flow becomes established from the south and southwest - the wrong direction for this beach. Onshore winds dominate more than half the time in May and June, and rain and humidity build to a peak in August. The southern hemisphere still delivers long-period, 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) groundswells, but they often arrive messy and wind-affected. Dawn patrols and the occasional post-storm north wind break can offer good waves, but they are far from the norm. The Ranch is best booked during the winter half of the year.