Cave - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The heart of the North Atlantic storm track aligns perfectly with Cave’s southwest-facing orientation from October through March. Average swell heights climb to a solid 2.0–2.6m, with long-period energy averaging 11–13 seconds. While the dominant swell direction is often from the NW–NNW, the most memorable days arise when deep low-pressure systems track just north of Portugal, pumping powerful SW to W groundswells directly into the bay. Offshore winds from the north through east quadrant (N, NNE, NE, ENE) blow cleanly over the lineup 24–28% of the time, often setting up glassy conditions under clearing skies. This is the prime window for Cave to deliver pumping, firing waves in the 1.5–2.5m range, with occasional XL days pushing well over 2.5m.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September represent transitional months where the seasonal extremes begin to shift. In April, the average swell drops slightly to 2.0m with a period of 11.1s, but the dominant wind regime starts to shift toward stronger northerly flow. Ideal wind percentages hold at 21%, though the swell direction remains predominantly NW–NNW, limiting the direct hits of optimal SW–W swell. September sees a return of autumn energy: average heights rise to 1.6m and period increases to 10.5s, with ideal wind frequency jumping to 27%. Both months offer fun, rippable conditions on the better days, but consistency and size are reduced compared to the peak winter months.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

From May through August, the North Atlantic storm track retreats northward, leaving Cave with smaller, weaker swell. Average heights hover between 1.4m and 1.7m, with periods dropping into the 8.5–9.9s range. The swell is overwhelmingly dominated by short-period NW–NNW windswell, which struggles to wrap effectively into the SW-facing pocket. Offshore wind conditions are surprisingly frequent during this period, with northerly (N) winds howling 30–44% of the time, but the combination of low period and poor swell direction means waves are often small, weak, and groveling. Only occasional pulse of longer-period W swell can provide brief fun-sized sessions. This is the time for longboards and patience, not for charging.

January: The Peak of Winter Power

January delivers the largest average swell of the year at 2.6m, accompanied by a long 13.0s period. The dominant swell direction is NW (21.9%) and WNW (17.7%), with minor contributions from the optimal SW (0.8%) and W (4.7%) quadrants. Despite the off-direction swell, the sheer energy and long period allow significant wrap into the bay, producing powerful, heavy waves in the 1.5–2.5m range. Wind statistics show ideal offshore directions (N through ENE) combine for 35.9% of the total, but only 27% of the time is the wind actually ideal for surfing—meaning many days are marred by onshore flow from the S–SW quadrants. Still, when a cold front clears and a fresh W swell arrives, Cave turns into a heavy, pumping arena.