Aterro - surf spot statistics

Aterro in Portugal offers consistent surf conditions throughout the year, but the best months for surfers typically fall between October and March. During this period, ground swell dominates, with percentages ranging from 62% in October to 89% in January, ensuring powerful and well-formed waves. The mean swell size is also most favorable, averaging between 1.3m and 1.7m, providing ideal wave heights for intermediate to advanced surfers. Wind conditions improve slightly in these months, with good wind days peaking at 43% in January and December, though offshore winds remain somewhat inconsistent. From April to September, conditions deteriorate as wind swells take over, reducing wave quality, and bad wind conditions dominate, often exceeding 70%. Swell size drops below 1.0m in summer, making it less reliable for serious surfers. While Aterro is surfable year-round, the winter and early spring months deliver the most consistent, high-quality waves with better wind alignment, making them the prime time for surfing at this spot.

In August, Aterro offers generally small but rideable conditions with an average swell height of 0.8m and a decent average period of 9.4s, suggesting reasonable energy despite the modest size. The swell is predominantly from the WNW (32% of waves in the 0.5-1m range) and NW directions, with occasional contributions from the W and WSW, ensuring consistent but mostly small to medium waves. The best chances for clean conditions come when the wind is favorable—only 18% of the time—typically light offshore or sideshore from the N to ENE. However, winds are often from the NW or W, which can create choppy surface conditions, especially at higher speeds (20-30kph). While larger sets occasionally push into the 1.5-2.5m range (peaking in WNW/NW swells), most waves are below 1.5m, making it ideal for longboarding or relaxed surfing. Advanced surfers may find rare, more powerful days when NW swells combine with lighter winds, but overall, expect mellow, smaller waves with occasional wind challenges.