Baked Beans - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

During the summer months, the South Atlantic high pressure system strengthens and shifts southwards, setting up a consistent southerly to southwesterly airflow along the coast. This delivers the most reliable offshore winds to Baked Beans, with ideal wind conditions occurring roughly 28-29% of the time. While the swell is slightly less powerful than the winter months, averaging 1.9-2.1m with periods around 10-11s, the combination of clean offshore wind and moderate, long-period south swell produces some of the cleanest, most rippable waves of the year. The occasional longer period pulse from intense Southern Ocean storms can still sneak in, offering overhead sets under glassy skies.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & September - October)

The transition months see a gradual shift in the dominant weather patterns. In autumn (March-April), the storms in the Southern Ocean start to ramp up, bringing stronger SW swell with periods often exceeding 11s. However, the incidence of ideal offshore wind drops to around 25%, as the high pressure system begins to weaken and cold fronts pass more frequently, bringing periods of onshore NW wind. Similarly, spring (September-October) sees the start of the buildup, with swell heights averaging 2.2-2.3m and wind conditions still marginal (22%). These months offer a mix: sometimes you score pumping SW swell with light offshore winds, but often it's bumpy or blown out depending on the day.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

The heart of the South African winter is a challenging time for Baked Beans. The Southern Ocean storm track is at its most active, relentlessly pumping massive SW swell into the region (average 2.3-2.4m, period 12-12.5s). However, these vigorous low-pressure systems also bring frequent strong NW to N winds, which are directly onshore at this NNE-facing beach. Ideal offshore wind percentages plummet to between 17% (June) and 21% (August). When the stars align and a high pressure ridge builds behind a cold front, you can score epic, grinding walls, but those windows are short-lived and often accompanied by strong wind swell and choppy conditions.

April: Building South Swell with Fading Reliability

April marks a clear step towards winter, with average swell height climbing to 2.1m and period extending to 11.7s. The SSW direction still leads at 27.8% of all swell, but the SW component increases notably to 11.6%, bringing more raw power. The wind becomes less dependable – ideal conditions drop to 25% – as the weakening high pressure allows frontal systems to push through. The WSW wind direction remains the most common (18.8% of observations), often in the 20-30 and 30-40kph ranges, so be prepared for onshore blocks between swells. When it all comes together, the waves are thick and hollow.