Senoritas • Statistics for February

February: Autumn Aligns

February is where the season starts to click. Average swell height bumps up to 5ft (1.5m), average period holds at a solid 13.1 seconds, and the percentage of truly ideal offshore wind doubles to 8 percent. SSW is the dominant swell engine at 77 percent, with SW contributing 22 percent, meaning the entire Pacific swell window is aimed straight at Senoritas. A little over 40 percent of all waves are in the fun, rippable 1-1.5m (3-5ft) band, but another 32 percent roll through at 1.5-2m (5-7ft) - proper pumping, head-high-plus lines. The synoptic pattern is transitioning into autumn: the South Pacific high is a little less locked in, and morning E/NE land breezes become more common, grooming the long-period swell into clean, reeling walls before the afternoon sea breeze kicks up. Directly onshore SSW/SW wind still dominates the stats, but the increased offshore wind frequency makes February a much more reliable month than January. With water temp at 19.8°C (68°F) and air temps peaking near 28°C, it is also one of the most pleasant months to sit in the lineup.