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.

January: Deep Winter Power

January is the heart of the North Atlantic storm track. The average swell height sits at a muscular 2.2m with a solid 13.3s period – clean, long-period groundswell that carries serious punch. The swell direction is overwhelmingly dominated by the NW (32.5%) and NNW (28.7%), which together account for over 61% of the wave energy. This is not the ideal angle for the west-southwest-facing beach; the wrap-around energy produces thick, peaky waves that can be walled, but the offshore wind is most favorable, blowing from the ideal NNE-E quadrants 60% of the time. Expect clean, groomed surfaces on most days, with wave heights often in the 1.5-2.5m range – pumping and hollow when the sets line up. The southerly components (SSW-SW-WSW-W) that would be perfect are nearly absent (only 0.4% total), so don‘t expect a classic point-break peel; instead, look for shifting peaks and long rights.