Conditions at Popov Island in October
October: The First Real Swell of the Autumn
October is where the surf season starts to wake up. Average swell edges up to 0.6m (2ft) and the wind rose shows NNW (20%) and N (9%) becoming established, boosting ideal wind to 13%. Swell direction is split between the remnant S/SSW energy (S 16%, SSW 19%) and the building NNW/N windswell (16% and 7%). For Popov, that means there are now two sources: short-period southerly swell that hits the beach directly, and increasing NNW wind that helps groom it. The average 4.9s period is still short, but the occasional S/SSW pulse in the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) range can become surfable.
Autumn cooling brings air temps down to 10.4°C, water temperature sits at 13.8°C, and precipitation drops to 1.83mm/day. October is the first month where a proper surf begins to feel realistic.
Average Spot conditions at Popov Island in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Popov Island 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 Popov Island for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Popov Island 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 Popov Island.