Canide Norte - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic firing squad is in full effect. During these months, average swell heights consistently top 1.4m with long periods above 11s, primarily from the W-NW quadrants. The Portuguese coastline becomes a magnet for powerful groundswells generated by intense extratropical cyclones tracking across the Atlantic. Importantly, a high percentage of offshore wind events (up to 48% in December) from the SW-WNW directions create pristine, glassy conditions at Canide Norte. When the jet stream aligns and a strong Azores High extends east, the result is clean, pulsing WNW groundswell wrapping perfectly into the bay. This is prime time for consistent, quality surf.

Fair Surf Season (April, May, September)

As the seasons transition, the frequency and intensity of Atlantic storms decrease. Swell heights average between 1.1m and 1.3m, with periods in the 10-11s range—still rideable but lacking the power of winter. Winds become more variable, with a higher prevalence of northerly and northwesterly components that are often onshore or cross-shore. However, occasional injections of longer period swell from distant storms can still produce fun surf, especially in September when the first autumn lows begin to form. Patience is key during these months.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer settles in and the surf goes into a lull. Average swell heights drop to around 0.9m with periods under 10s, predominantly short-period NW and WNW windswell. The dominant wind pattern is from the north-northwest (NNW), which blows directly onshore at Canide Norte, chopping up what little swell exists. Offshore wind from the SW-WNW is rare, occurring less than 15% of the time. Expect small, weak, and often messy conditions. This is the time for gear adjustments or alternative activities.

February: Winter's Heavyweight Hold

February sees only a slight drop in intensity with an average swell height of 1.7m and a period of 12.6s. The swell distribution remains similar to January, with WNW dominating at 43.7%, followed by NW (21.1%) and W (15.9%). The increased NW component adds variety and occasional power. Ideal wind frequency remains high at 43%, with offshore breezes from the SW-WNW quadrant still common. The wind pattern still features a strong northerly component (N 10.9%, NNE 7.7%), but these are less detrimental than onshore westerlies. February continues to deliver excellent quality surf, though a slowly weakening storm track means slightly less consistency than January. Keep an eye on the NAO index—a negative phase can bring more southerly tracks and larger swell.