Chatarra - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - June & September - October)

Chatarra's surf year is a tale of consistent, yet marginal, conditions driven primarily by the easterly trade winds. The best windows occur in late spring and early fall when the trade wind regime relaxes, and the percentage of ideal offshore wind (from the S, SSW, SW) peaks. In May and June, ideal wind tops 39-43%, and while the dominant swell remains small and short-period from the E/ESE, the lighter or southerly winds can groom the waves into clean, fun-sized lines. September and October offer a similar reprieve, with October reaching 40% ideal wind and a slight uptick in swell consistency. These are the months to watch for the rare combo of sunshine and rideable surf.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & November)

March through April and November fall into the 'fair' category, with ideal wind percentages ranging from 26-32%. The trade winds are a bit more active, often blowing side-shore from the east, which can create bumpy, choppy surfaces. Swell heights remain in the 0.5-1m range with a short 6-second period, making for a groveling session at best. Still, there are occasional days when a stronger high-pressure system shifts the wind to the south, offering brief windows of quality.

Low Surf Season (January - February, July - August, December)

The low season is marked by the highest onshore wind frequency and the lowest ideal wind percentages, especially in December (20%), July (21%), and January (24%). During these months, the trade winds are dominant and often stronger, blowing onshore from the N to ENE quadrants. Combined with a persistent low-energy swell from the east, conditions are typically choppy, messy, and small. July and August, despite being summer, are particularly poor due to the strengthening of the trade winds and the complete absence of any north swell. Winter months (Dec-Feb) suffer from similar wind issues, though the swell occasionally pulses slightly higher, still failing to deliver quality waves due to the wrong direction and short period.

March: Transitional Breathing Room

March brings a slight shift. While swell direction remains mostly E (38.7%) and ESE (44.6%), the average height drops marginally to 0.8m and the period to 6.1s. The wind pattern begins to show a bit more variability, with ideal wind conditions improving to 27%. The trade winds are still dominant, but there is a small increase in lighter wind events from the south-southeast to south, allowing for occasional cleaner surf. ENE and E winds still make up nearly 50% of the total, so expect plenty of bumpy days. However, the first hints of spring improve the odds of a glassy morning session.