Cloud 9 - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - November & April - May)

The most promising windows for quality waves at Cloud 9 come during the transition months when the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) begins to weaken or build. October stands out with an average 1.1m swell at 10.2 seconds and a 35% chance of offshore southerly winds—a rare alignment of moderate size and clean conditions. November offers larger 1.3m swell but ideal wind drops to 12%, so patience is key. April and May see the monsoon shift, with May delivering a 32% offshore wind frequency and fun-sized 0.8m swell that can still juice up on longer period pulses.

Fair Surf Season (December - March)

The heart of the NE monsoon season brings consistent, powerful swell from N through ENE, with average heights ranging from 1.3m in March to 1.7m in January and periods often exceeding 9.5 seconds. However, the wind is predominantly from the NE and ENE as well—onshore and often strong, degrading surface quality. Despite the pumping size, ideal offshore wind occurs only 3-6% of the time, meaning clean waves are fleeting. These months offer epic potential when a cold front or localized trough brings a southerly wind shift, but expect mostly wind-affected conditions.

Low Surf Season (June - September)

During the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), the wind clocks around to the south and southwest, providing offshore flow at Cloud 9 up to 60% of the time in August. Unfortunately, the same pattern suppresses swell generation, with average heights bottoming out at 0.7m and periods dipping to 8.4-9.0s. The waves that do arrive are predominantly small, clean, and best suited for longboard or fun-shapes. While not the stuff of barrels, these months offer reliable, crowd-free surfing in silky conditions.

January: Peak Monsoon Grind

The Northeast Monsoon roars in January, pumping an average 1.7m swell from the NE (57%) and ENE (30%) directions. Wave heights cluster heavily between 1.5-2.5m, with the average period at 9.5 seconds—enough to produce punchy, hollow peaks at Cloud 9. The problem is wind: NE and ENE winds blow at 10-30 kph over 80% of the time, delivering strong onshore conditions that chop up the faces. Ideal offshore S/SSW flow occurs a mere 3% of the time, often in early morning lulls. The rare southerly wind shift during a passing front can transform the reef into a glassy, barreling machine. Otherwise, expect challenging, bumpy surf only for the determined.