Conditions at Cobden in October
October: Spring Swing, Unstable Winds, Serious Swell
October is a classic spring swing month. The average swell stays powerful at 2.0m (6-7ft) with 11.9s periods, and the W-WNW-NW-NNW window accounts for a strong 44% of incoming energy. But the wind becomes fickle: ideal offshore E/ESE/SE/SSE flow drops to 25% of the time, while onshore W-NW winds push back to 37%. This means there is plenty of swell in the water, but the surface is often chopped up by westerly winds. When a high-pressure system parks over the South Island and an ESE offshore flow develops, the combo of 2m (6.5ft) W swell and clean surface can be spectacular. Water temp rises slightly to 13.1°C, air averages 10.1°C, and October is one of the wettest months at 6.10mm/day - keep an eye on the rain radar and the wind forecast.
Average Spot conditions at Cobden in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cobden 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 Cobden for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cobden 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 Cobden.