Borkum - surf spot statistics

Borkum, Germany, is a surf spot with predominantly wind-driven conditions, as the data shows very little ground swell throughout the year. The best months for surfing are typically late autumn and winter, specifically from October to December, when wind swell percentages peak around 38-44%, and mean swell size reaches 0.5-0.6m. However, even during these months, the likelihood of good wind conditions remains extremely low (only 2-3% of the time), meaning cross-onshore or cross-offshore winds are rare, and most days feature less favorable wind directions. From January to February, wind swell remains relatively consistent (43-47%), but the poor wind conditions (98% bad) and small swell size (0.6m) limit quality surfing opportunities. Spring and summer (March to August) see a significant drop in wind swell frequency (24-36%) and smaller waves (0.4-0.5m), making these months far less ideal. September marks a slight improvement as wind swell increases to 29%, though conditions remain marginal. Overall, Borkum is a spot for committed surfers who can handle onshore wind chop, with October to December offering the highest chance of rideable waves, albeit still inconsistent and small by global standards. The lack of ground swell and consistently unfavorable winds make it a challenging spot for high-performance surfing, better suited for beginners in small waves or windsurfers/kitesurfers who thrive in strong onshore conditions.

December at this surf spot offers relatively small and inconsistent conditions, with an average swell height of just 0.6m and a short period of 4.8s, indicating mostly weaker wind swells rather than powerful groundswells. The wave distribution shows that most waves (over 80%) are below 1m, primarily from the NNW, WNW, and SW directions, with only about 5% reaching 1.5-2m. Larger waves (2m+) are rare, mostly coming from the NW and WSW, but still infrequent. Wind conditions are predominantly onshore or cross-shore, with SW, WSW, and S winds being the most common, often blowing at 20-40kph—leading to choppy or blown-out surf. Only 2% of the time does the wind align favorably for clean surf, making December a challenging month for quality waves. Expect small, messy conditions best suited for high-volume boards or windsurfing when stronger winds kick in. Patience and local knowledge will be key to scoring the occasional clean session.