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.

May: Summer Creeps In

May marks the real onset of the summer pattern. The swell mix tilts heavily toward the SW (30.3%) and WSW (39.5%) directions, with W only contributing 22.1%. This southwesterly swell is less optimal for Blacks Beach's west-facing orientation, but it still produces rideable waves. Average height is 1.1m, with most energy in the 0.5-1m (17.1% WSW) and 1-1.5m (20.6% WSW) categories. The average period reaches 13.5 seconds, so the swell is long-period and powerful when it arrives. The wind, however, becomes a major obstacle: offshore flow plummets to just 8%. The prevailing onshore westerlies dominate (W 25.9%, WSW 25.0%), blowing out the lineup for most of the day. The best hope is a rare early morning offshore event or a strong eddy flow. May is for the dedicated who don't mind a little chop.