Sidi Ifni seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The North Atlantic is the engine that drives Sidi Ifni, and from October through March it runs at full power. As the Azores High shifts south and the Icelandic Low deepens, the Atlantic storm track aims more and more energy toward the Moroccan coast. Average wave heights climb from around 6ft (1.8m) in October to 7-8ft (2.3m) in February, while average periods sit in the powerful 11.6-13.1s band. The wind regime also cooperates more often, with ideal offshore flow from the east/southeast quadrant (O/OSO/SO/SSO) blowing 22-40% of the time. With the wave direction dominated by W-WNW-NW-NNW swell, this northwest-facing stretch is perfectly aligned for consistent, long-period surf. The phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation often helps set the pace: positive phases tend to energise the storm track and keep the swells lining up for Morocco, while blocked negative phases can create more stop-start surf.
Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)
The shoulder months sit on the edge of that Atlantic power. April and May still see healthy northwest groundswell, but the average period drops to 9.5-10.9s and the offshore wind percentage plummets to 6-11% as the trade wind machine begins to dominate. The waves can still be fun, especially when an east/southeast offshore breeze cleans things up. September marks the first rumblings of autumn: the period climbs back to 10.1s, swell size rebounds from the summer minimum, and the odds of clean, punchy surf begin to rise again.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
Summer is the trade wind season at Sidi Ifni. The Azores High locks in over the northeast Atlantic, producing near-constant NNW-N winds that are onshore and cross-shore for this northwest-facing coastline. Average swell heights shrink to around 5ft (1.5-1.6m) and periods fall into the 8.0-8.6s range, so the surf becomes smaller, bumpier and more disorganised. The swell direction is overwhelmingly NNW - more than 95% of the time in July and August - but without a reliable offshore wind, those waves rarely reach their potential. If you can find a dawn window with light east/southeast flow, there can still be rippable walls, but this is the season to be patient.