Alibaba - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

The North Atlantic cyclone machine hits full stride from late autumn through winter, feeding the Cape Verde archipelago with consistent, long-period groundswell. While the predominant swell direction at Alibaba is from the north-northeast—less than ideal for this southwest-facing beach—it is during these months that the swell energy is at its peak (average periods of 11-12 seconds, heights 2.0-2.3m). More importantly, the occasional pulse from the NW quadrant (especially in December and January) can wrap around the island's western points, delivering clean, powerful waves when the stars align. Offshore wind frequencies hover between 11% and 21%, but when the NE trade wind lightens or shifts to a pure east component, conditions become truly glassy. This is the window for the rare but memorable session.

Fair Surf Season (March, September, October)

Transitional months see the North Atlantic storm track begin to shift, reducing average swell heights to 1.8-2.2m and periods to 10-11 seconds. The wind regime remains dominated by the NE trades, with ideal offshore conditions occurring 12-38% of the time. However, the swell direction stays stubbornly north-northeast, so the same wrap-dependent surf prevails. March offers slightly better wind consistency, while October sees a noticeable jump in swell period as the autumn storms reload. These months provide the best compromise between decent swell size and workable wind for the patient surfer.

Low Surf Season (April - August)

From spring into early summer, the North Atlantic high-pressure system calcifies, suppressing storm activity and reducing swell heights to 1.4-2.0m with periods dropping below 9 seconds. Even though the NE trade winds blow strong and consistent—especially in July and August when ideal offshore wind tops 48%—the swell is simply too small and short-period to wrap effectively around the island's terrain. The result is a long stretch of flat to tiny, powerless waves that rarely break with any form. Occasional pulses of NW windswell in June offer brief, knee-high relief, but overall this is the time to explore other spots on the island or save the airfare.

September: Transition Month, Hints of Autumn

September signals the return of longer-period swell: average 1.6m at 9.2s, a significant jump from August. The swell direction broadens: NNE still leads at 62.4%, but N increases to 15.0% and NNW to 10.3%. This NNW component can create a more favorable wrap angle, especially when the period exceeds 10s. Wind remains favorable, with ideal conditions 38% of the time, and lighter NE trades (30.6% NNE, 33.3% NE) with frequent calm periods. The combination of improving swell period and consistent offshore wind makes September the first month of the fair season. Look for pulses of NW swell (0.7% from NW) that can produce clean, head-high waves on the sets. It's a hit-or-miss month, but the autumn shift is underway.