Beliche - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months, with average swell heights consistently above 2m and wave periods pushing past 12 seconds. The frequency of ideal offshore winds (N, NNE, NE, ENE) hovers between 25-33%, offering clean conditions when they align. While the dominant NW swell direction isn't optimal for Beliche's SSW-facing orientation, the occasional SW to S groundswell wraps into the bay with power and precision. When these systems couple with a north wind, the bay transforms into a world-class wave. Keep an eye on the NAO index—positive phases often funnel more southerly swell into the Portuguese south coast, turning good into great.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transitional months offer a mixed bag. April still sees average swell heights near 1.9m and periods around 11s, but the percentage of ideal wind drops to 23%, and the swell energy shifts toward shorter-period NW windswell. September is the start of the autumn ramp-up: heights average 1.5m with periods climbing back to 10.4s, and ideal wind frequency jumps to 33%. The combo of building swell and improving wind stats makes September a sleeper month, especially for fun-sized morning sessions before the sea breeze kicks in.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

The summer lull sets in from May through August. Average swell heights bottom out at 1.4m and periods drop into the 8-10s range—mostly short-period windswell from the prevailing NW winds. The percentage of clean offshore wind days falls to 18-23%, and the dominant swell directions (NW, NNW) produce weak, choppy conditions that rarely favor the bay. However, don't write it off entirely: occasional small pulses from the SSW or SW can deliver fun, groveling waves on a longboard or fish, especially during early morning thermal winds. It's a great time for beginner lessons or logging, but not for chasing power.

January: The Roar of the Atlantic

January is the peak of winter intensity along the Portuguese coast. Average swell height hits 2.4m with a hefty period of 13.1s, indicative of powerful, long-period groundswells generated by deep North Atlantic lows. The dominant swell direction is from the NW (27.5%) and WNW (16.9%), which, while not ideal for Beliche's SSW-facing beach, can still produce overhead waves when strong enough to wrap around Cape St. Vincent. The real gold lies in the SW (0.6%) and WSW (1.6%) swells—rare but magical when they align. Offshore wind conditions occur 31% of the time, primarily from N (15.8%) and NNW (10.8%). These northerly winds are clean and groom the wave face perfectly. Expect pumping barrels on the best days, but be prepared for frequent onshore southerly winds (S, SSW, SW) that can chop things up in a hurry.