Alibaba - surf spot statistics

Alibaba in Cape Verde offers consistent surf conditions year-round, but the best months for advanced surfers are clearly from October through March. During this period, ground swell dominates, with November and December standing out as prime months—ground swell peaks at 78-79%, accompanied by the lowest wind swell interference (21-22%). Swell size averages a solid 1.8-2.1m, providing powerful, clean waves. Wind conditions are also most favorable in these months, with good wind days occurring 68-76% of the time, particularly in November (76% good winds). January and February maintain strong ground swell (61-64%) and reliable winds (65-68% favorable), though slightly less consistent than late autumn. March and April see a gradual drop in wind quality (57-62% good days) but still deliver decent ground swell (63-67%). From May to September, conditions deteriorate significantly: wind swell dominates (77-95%), swell size shrinks (1.3-1.6m), and onshore winds ruin most days (only 11-43% clean wind days). Summer months (June-August) are particularly poor, with tiny swells (1.3-1.5m) and strong onshore winds (78-89% bad conditions). September marks a transition, with improving ground swell (33%) but still marginal winds (30% good). For high-performance surfing, prioritize November to February—optimal swell power, cleanest conditions, and minimal wind interference.

July at Alibaba, Cape Verde, offers surfable conditions but with some variability. The average swell height is 1.4m with a decent period of 8.6s, indicating mostly clean, organized waves. The dominant swell directions are NNE and NNW, contributing to the majority of rideable waves in the 1-1.5m range, with occasional bigger sets up to 2.5m when NNE swells are stronger. Wind conditions are less consistent, with only 11% of the time providing ideal offshore or light cross-shore winds (typically NNE to NNW). The prevailing winds are often SSW to SW, blowing in the 10-30kph range, which can create onshore chop and reduce wave quality. While there are surfable days, wind interference is frequent, so early mornings or rare wind shifts may offer the cleanest sessions. Advanced surfers can find good waves when the swell direction aligns with lighter winds, but overall consistency is moderate.