Blacks Beach - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Pacific stirs to life during these months, and Blacks Beach reaps the rewards. A climatological ramp-up in extratropical storm activity across the Pacific sends consistent, long-period swell trains marching toward the California coast. Dominant swells from the W and WSW – ideal windows for this west-facing gem – push average heights into the 1-1.5m range, with plenty of overhead-plus days when storm tracks align. The real key, though, is the wind. As high pressure builds over the interior West, offshore flow from the east (E, ENE, ESE) kicks in 40-50% of the time, grooming those powerful, 12-14 second lines into pristine, rippable walls. This is prime time for Blacks Beach.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

Transition months bring a mixed bag. In April, the Pacific storm track starts to weaken, but lingering WNW and W swells still produce fun, shoulder-high waves with an average period of 13.3s – plenty of punch. However, offshore wind windows shrink to about 19%, and onshore westerlies begin to creep in more often, so you need to pick your days. September sees a similar pattern: a shift from summer southwesterly slop to more westerly energy, with long-period groundswell still in the mix. Offshore flow returns to 7% of the time, offering occasional clean windows between the prevailing afternoon seabreezes. It's not prime, but it's far from flat.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer is the off-season at Blacks Beach. The Pacific storm machine goes quiet, and the dominant swell shifts to the SW and WSW – still rideable, but often coming from a less optimal angle. Average heights hover around 1m with plenty of 0.5-1m days. The real killer is the wind. The North Pacific High strengthens, driving persistent onshore westerlies that chop up the swell and blow out the lineup. Ideal offshore wind plummets to 1-8% during these months, making clean conditions a rare, precious commodity. When the combination of a long-period SW swell and a rare morning offshore breeze aligns, though, you can score some glassy, fun-sized waves. It's a waiting game.

March: The Transition Begins

March sees the first signs of the seasonal shift. Swell energy remains robust, with W at 44.4% and WSW at 39.0%, but the contribution from SW swells climbs to 13.2% as the winter storm track starts to retrain northward. Wave heights hold at an average of 1.1m, with a healthy chunk of 1-1.5m (23.3% from W) and a noticeable uptick in 1.5-2.5m from W (8.0% total). The average period stays strong at 12.6 seconds. The big story is the wind: ideal offshore flow drops to 28% as the North Pacific High strengthens and pushes more onshore westerlies. W winds blow 20.4% of the time, and WNW adds 14.2%. You'll need to hunt for the early easterly mornings (E 3.5%, ESE 3.6%) to find clean conditions. March can still deliver epic sessions if you time the weather right.