Desert Point seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (November - March)
The North Atlantic roars to life during the winter months, and Desert Point is perfectly positioned to receive the long-period W/NW/NNW groundswell that those storms generate. From November through March, average heights sit around 6-7ft (1.8-2.1m) with average periods in the 12-13 second range. This is also when the local offshore flow is most reliable, especially in December and January, when favourable wind windows exceed 50 percent. A positive North Atlantic Oscillation tends to keep the storm track aimed at the African coast, delivering back-to-back swell trains; a negative phase can shut the door, so keep an eye on the NAO when planning a winter strike mission.
Fair Surf Season (October & April)
October and April are shoulder months. In October the summer trade wind pattern breaks down and the first strong autumn lows begin to fire, while April still holds onto late-season groundswell before the Azores High strengthens. Wave heights average 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) and periods hover near 11 seconds - enough for punchy, rideable surf, but with less consistency and more wind-window roulette than the heart of winter.
Low Surf Season (May - September)
The summer months are the clear low season at Desert Point. The Azores High locks in over the North Atlantic, storm tracks shift north, and the coast is left with smaller, shorter-period NNW windswell averaging 1.4-1.7m (4.6-5.6ft) and periods below 10 seconds. At the same time, NW and WNW winds dominate a huge share of the wind rose, leaving the spot chop-affected and mostly mushy. Favourable wind windows drop to 10-19 percent, making this the time of year best spent somewhere else.