Supertubos seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
When the North Atlantic awakens from its summer slumber, the race is on. From October through March, a relentless parade of extratropical cyclones marching southwest of Iceland and off the Atlantic seaboard drives long-period, high-energy swell toward the Iberian Peninsula. At Supertubos, the average swell height of 8.2-9.2ft (2.5-2.8m) with periods of 12.1-13.1s can turn this sandbar into a freight train of slabs - exactly what this west-southwest-facing gem was made for. Offshore winds from the NE, ENE, E and ESE blow across the land on about 40% of the days, grooming the lines to a clean, barreling perfection. When the Azores High extends a ridge over the continent and storms track far enough west, the combination of solid W/NW swell and easterly offshores delivers world-class sessions that rival the best in Europe.
Fair Surf Season (April - May and September)
As the spring transition takes hold, the mid-latitude storm track begins to retreat northward, and swell heights ease to 5.9-6.9ft (1.8-2.1m) while periods slide into the 10-11s range. The onset of the summer thermal regime introduces more persistent north-northwesterly winds, which can occasionally be cross-offshore but frequently turns conditions ragged. September sees a similar transitional character - the ocean is still warm and the Atlantic is beginning to reawaken, with the first significant long-period swells arriving again. These months are a gamble: on a good day you'll score playful barrels, but on a bad day, onshore westerlies and soft, short-period bumps will have you fighting for a clean sandbar drainer.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
Summer is the quiet season along the Portuguese Atlantic coast. The Azores High parks itself northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, deflecting the worst of the Atlantic storms and leaving Supertubos with shorter-period, smaller pulses of NW/NNW swell. Average wave heights dip to 4.9-5.2ft (1.5-1.6m) with periods around 8.6-9.2s - enough for groveling and fun rippable waves when the winds align, but rarely the heavy, powerful barrels that make Supertubos infamous. The dominant summer wind is the NNW thermal, blasting from the north almost 50% of the time; although it can be offshore or side-offshore at times, it often creates bumpy surface conditions. The saving grace is the warm water and air, but if you want Supertubos at its best, winter is calling.