Banana Beach - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these six months, with powerful extratropical lows marching across the mid-latitudes and firing long-period swell toward the Moroccan coast. Average wave heights hover between 1.8m and 2.2m, and periods consistently climb above 11.6s, often reaching 13s+, meaning solid, pulsing energy. The offshore wind from the east and northeast quadrants (NNE through E) blows a healthy 51-62% of the time, providing frequent windows of glassy, groomed conditions. However, the predominant swell arrives from the NW and NNW, which is not the ideal spread for this WSW-facing beach; these wraparound waves can still deliver punchy barrels and walled-up sections, especially when the wind aligns. This is the prime window for experienced surfers looking for size and power.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transitional months offer a mixed bag. April sees the last gasp of winter swell – average height 2.0m and period 10.9s – but the winter wind patterns are weakening, and the ideal offshore wind drops to just 39%. The swell direction remains locked in the NW/NNW quadrant, meaning imperfect angles. In September, the sea begins to stir again as the Azores High relaxes; swell heights nudge up to 1.5m with periods rebounding to 10.1s, and offshore wind blows 46% of the time. The surf is more consistent than summer but still lacks the consistency and power of the peak season. Dedicated surfers can find fun, rippable waves with a bit of patience.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer settles in with the Azores High firmly parked over the North Atlantic, squashing storm activity. Swell heights drop to 1.5-1.6m, periods shrink into the 7-9s range, and the energy becomes weakening and short-interval. The dominant wind direction tilts toward the NW and NNW – onshore for Banana Beach –, although the ideal offshore breeze still occurs 35-48% of the time. Most days are small and choppy, best suited for longboards or grovelers. July and August see a slight uptick in offshore wind frequency (47-48%) but the swell remains marginal. This is the low season for a reason: leave the big boards at home and plan a trip north to find better options.

April: Transitional Mix

April is a fickle month. The average swell height drops to 2.0m and the period shortens to 10.9s – a mix of leftover winter groundswell and early spring windswell. Swell direction remains overwhelmingly from the NNW (46.3%) and NW (23.9%), with ideal directions (SSW-W) still negligible (0.1%). The offshore wind frequency falls to 39%, the first significant drop of the year. This means fewer clean days, and the prevailing wind now comes more frequently from the NNW and NW (onshore). When the wind does align from the east or southeast, the wrap-around NW swell can produce fun, rippable waves in the 1-2m range. The wave height distribution is still solid, with 1.5-2.5m waves making up over 40% of the total. April rewards the persistent surfer who can read the occasional clean window.