Raglan seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (February - April)
Raglan's golden window arrives as summer's heat fades and the Tasman Sea begins to churn. February through April sees the strongest blend of warm air, long-period SW/WSW groundswell and the highest rates of offshore SSW/SW/WSW wind for the year. Average swells run 1.6-1.9m (5-6ft) with periods clicking into the 12-12.6s range, which means the famous left point gets both push and shape. Add water temps around 18.9-20.9°C and it's no surprise this is the season to score.
Fair Surf Season (May - August)
Southern Ocean storm belts shift north and the average wave height jumps to a solid 2.2m (7ft) through winter. The period stays powerful at 12.2-12.5s, but the ideal wind percentage drops to the 24-29% range as more W/NW winds blow across the Tasman. When synoptic fronts align, SSW/SW offshore winds groom that big WSW swell into world-class walls; when they don't, Raglan turns onshore and wild. This is the season for experienced surfers chasing bigger, heavier juice.
Low Surf Season (September - January)
Spring and early summer are the ficklest months. Swell is still abundant at first, but ideal wind frequency bottoms out at just 16-25% from September to January. NW-NNW onshore winds and strengthening afternoon sea breezes are the main culprits, chopping up the points even when the groundswell is pumping. By December and January the points turn smaller and softer, although the warm water and long-period SW swells still offer plenty of fun waves when the winds align.