Dunmoran Strand - surf spot statistics

{ "spot_name": "Dunmoran Strand", "seasonal_overview": "

Best Surf Season (October – March)

The North Atlantic cranks up as autumn deepens, sending powerful, long-period groundswell marching toward the west coast of Ireland. From October through March, the average swell height consistently tops 2.0m and often exceeds 2.5m, with periods routinely in the 11–12 second range. These swells are predominantly generated by intense extratropical storms tracking across the Atlantic, delivering a steady diet of westerly to northwesterly energy. While the prevailing swell directions (W, WNW, NW) aren't a perfect match for Dunmoran's NNE-facing orientation, the deep-water bathymetry allows plenty of wrap-around – especially from NNW and NW pulses. The real gems come when a low pressure system anchors just northwest of Ireland, funnelling clean, powerful NNW swell straight into the strand. Offshore winds from the south through southwest quadrant blow 9–11% of the time each month, but only about one quarter of all days deliver the ideal combination of swell direction, wind direction and strength. The payoff? Late autumn and winter weekends can produce pumping, double-overhead walls with just enough shelter from the prevailing breeze. Expect lots of close-outs and wind-affected sessions, but the average quality is high when conditions click – this is the heart of the Irish big-wave season.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

Transition months offer a compromise: smaller but more consistent swell, plus a slightly higher chance of clean offshore winds. In April, the average swell drops to 1.7m with a period of 10.7s – still rideable, especially on a longboard or fish. The dominant swell shifts subtly, with a notable increase in NW and NNW contributions (each over 15%) that align better with the beach's orientation. Ideal wind frequency holds at 27%, similar to March. September sees a reversal, with average swell height climbing back to 1.7m and period to 10.2s as autumn storms begin to recharge. Wind conditions improve to 31% favourable, making for some of the most user-friendly days of the year. Both months are characterised by lighter winds overall, with frequent light southerly breezes that groom the waves nicely. The trade-off is that you'll be surfing knee-to-shoulder high waves more often, but the consistency and cleanliness can be stellar.

Low Surf Season (May – August)

Summer brings a significant drop in both swell height and period, with average heights between 1.2 and 1.4m and periods dipping below 10 seconds. The wave energy becomes short-period, windswell-dominated – early morning logs and foamboards come into play, but the quality is rarely above average. The good news: this is the prime window for offshore winds. Ideal wind percentages hit their annual peak at 28–34%, with southerly and south-southwesterly breezes common. However, the swell direction is heavily weighted toward the W and WNW – not ideal for the sandbanks at Dunmoran. Small, weak NW and NNW pulses do occur, but they're often quickly erased by daytime sea breezes from the north or northwest. The result is a season of ankle-to-waist high, bumpy conditions with occasional fun-sized windows if you're willing to chase the early morning glass. This is a great time for beginners or for those who enjoy a casual session on a longboard, but for serious surfers, it's time to travel south or wait for autumn.

", "monthly_stats": { "january": "

January: The Deep Winter Pulse

January serves up the largest average swell of the year at 2.7m with a commanding period of 12.5s – true North Atlantic groundswell. The swell roses reveal a strong westerly bias: W (13.9%), WNW (11.9%), and NW (7.0%) dominate, with NNW (6.6%) also significant. While W and WNW are far from ideal for Dunmoran's NNE exposure, the longer-period energy wraps into the bay, especially from NNW and NW which hit more directly. The wind distribution shows a promising amount of offshore directions: S (11.5%), SSW (10.3%), and SW (10.5%) are the top three wind directions, but they're often accompanied by strong speeds (20–40 kph). Combined, these favourable quadrants make up about one third of January wind, yet only 25% of all hours meet the full surfing ideal. The persistent onshore north (2.6%) and northwest (4.3%) winds remain a challenge. When a deep low parks itself off northern Scotland, a clean NNW swell meets a solid SW breeze, Dunmoran lights up with powerful, hollow peaks – worth every minute of shivering on the beach.

", "february": "

February: Consistency in the Cold

February closely mirrors January with an average swell of 2.6m and period of 12.4s, maintaining the deep-winter momentum. Swell direction shifts slightly, with WNW (13.9%) and W (12.9%) still leading, but note a stronger contribution from NW (6.4%) and NNW (5.8%). The NNE and NE quadrants remain low (1.0% and 0.7% respectively), meaning direct swell is rare. However, the long-period nature ensures plenty of wrap. Wind patterns are virtually identical to January: S (10.1%), SSW (9.6%), and SW (10.2%) are the most common, ideal for grooming. The northwest and north winds (4.3% and 2.7%) still pose a threat. Ideal surfing conditions occur 25% of the time – exactly on par with January. The consistent pattern means that if you missed a good day last month, February offers a reliable second chance at serious winter surf. Look for a strong negative NAO to steer the storm track further south, pulsing long-period NW swell into the region.

", "march": "

March: Gearing Down with Power

March sees a slight reduction in average swell height to 2.3m, but the period remains sturdy at 11.9s, still delivering powerful, clean lines. The swell distribution becomes more concentrated in the western quadrants: WNW (17.4%) and W (13.6%) dominate, with NW (10.6%) and NNW (9.8%) also well represented. Importantly, there's a notable uptick in NNW swell compared to the previous months – almost 10% of the time the energy arrives from a more favourable direction. Wind conditions improve marginally with ideal surfing at 27% of the time. The south (9.1%), SSW (9.5%), and SW (8.9%) remain the top offshore contributors, while cross-shore or onshore components from west through north are common but not overwhelming. The long days and more stable weather patterns of late winter often produce multi-day clean windows. This is a prime month for intermediate to advanced surfers to find consistent, shoulder-high to overhead waves with occasional stand-out sessions when a late-season storm brushes the coast.

", "april": "

April: Spring's Sweet Spot

April marks a transition to smaller, but higher-quality surf. The average swell height drops to 1.7m with a period of 10.7s – still well within the "fun, solid, rippable" zone. The biggest change is in swell direction: WNW may still lead at 21.9%, but it's closely followed by NNW (17.2%) and NW (15.9%). This is the first month where the most frequent swell angles (particularly NNW) directly favour Dunmoran's orientation. Wind conditions remain excellent: ideal surfing 27% of the time. The south through southwest quadrant (S 6.4%, SSW 6.1%, SW 6.4%) is well balanced, and the north winds (8.7%) are lighter than in winter. What this means in practice: many mornings feature clean, waist-to-chest high waves wrapping into the strand, with occasional overhead sets during late-season frontal passages. The longer days and milder temperatures make April a crowd favourite – the conditions may not be huge, but the consistency and cleanliness are hard to beat.

", "may": "

May: Small but Groomed

May sees the average swell dwindle to 1.4m with period dropping to 9.6s – firmly in short-period windswell territory. The swell distribution shows a heavy concentration of energy from the NNW (19.9%), NW (17.4%), and WNW (19.6%). This is actually a favourable distribution: the two top directions (NNW and NW) are highly aligned with the beach, and even WNW provides wrap. The catch is the period: most of this swell is low-energy, wind-driven stuff from local systems. Wind conditions are still decent, with ideal conditions 26% of the time. The most common wind directions shift slightly: N (8.7%), SSE (6.6%), and SW (6.7%) dominate. The southerly quadrant provides offshore grooming, but the north quadrant brings onshore crumble. When a high-pressure sits to the west, light southerly winds combine with a small NW pulse to produce fun, clean 2–3 ft waves perfect for a longboard or quad fish. Not a month for power, but a great time to dial in turns in small waves.

", "june": "

June: Summer Lull Begins

June bottom out with the lowest average swell of the year: just 1.2m at 8.9s. The wave energy is almost entirely from the western and northern quadrants, led by WNW (23.4%), NW (16.9%), and NNW (17.1%). As in May, these directions align well with the beach, but the period is too short to produce any real power. Ideal wind frequency improves to 28%, the highest since spring. The wind rose shows a relatively even spread, but with a slight preference for southerly and westerly flows. Onshore from N and NW (8.9% and 7.9%) still can ruin sessions. The best chance for a surfable wave comes in the early morning, before the sea breeze kicks in, when a small long-period NW swell (rare) slides in under a S-SW breeze. Most days will be grovellable on the right equipment, but forget about barrels or big walls. This is the month to explore other spots or enjoy the beach vibe without the crowds.

", "july": "

July: The Quiet Peak

July is statistically the calmest month for swell: 1.2m at 8.6s is the smallest and weakest of the year. The swell rose tells a story of almost entirely short-period energy from WNW (28.7%) and NW (17.1%) with NNW (12.9%) also notable. The good news: ideal wind conditions hit their yearly high at 31%. The wind is fairly evenly distributed, but SW (8.6%), WSW (9.6%), and W (9.9%) are the most common. Onshore north winds (6.8%) are less dominant than in spring. This creates windows of glassy, clean conditions, but the swell is simply too small and weak to produce anything more than knee-high mush. A rare summer Atlantic low can generate a small, long-period pulse, but it's the exception. For the dedicated surfer, a foamboard or a SUP will catch the tiny waves, but realistically July is best for swimming, sunbathing, and appreciating the beautiful strand.

", "august": "

August: Glimmers of Autumn

August sees a slight uptick in average swell to 1.3m with period returning to 8.9s – still very small, but the trend is upward. Swell direction remains dominated by WNW (28.3%), NW (15.8%), and NNW (12.6%). The big change is in wind quality: ideal conditions occur 34% of the time, the highest percentage of any month. Southerly winds (S 7.7%, SSW 9.3%, SW 10.5%) are the most prominent, and they are often light to moderate. The combination of steady southwest winds and increasing NW swell activity makes for cleaner sessions than June or July. While the average wave height is still small, every few years a large early-season storm brings a pulse of 2m+ NW swell with a 10–12 second period. When that aligns with a southerly breeze, Dunmoran can surprise with fun, overhead waves in late August. Overall, a month of low- to moderate-quality surf but with a slowly improving outlook.

", "september": "

September: Autumn Ignition

September marks a noticeable jump in both height (1.7m) and period (10.2s) as the North Atlantic wakes up. The swell distribution shows WNW (24.6%) still king, but NW (13.9%) and NNW (12.0%) are both active. The period improvement means these westerly swells start to carry real energy again, and the NW and NNW components deliver more direct, powerful waves to the strand. Wind conditions are still favourable with ideal surfing 31% of the time – the same as July. The wind rose reveals the autumn transition: southerly through westerly winds (S 8.6%, SSW 9.1%, SW 8.9%, WSW 10.0%) are strong, but the classic offshore S-SW quadrant accounts for over a quarter of wind observations. This is a shoulder month that often delivers the first excellent sessions of the season, with chest-high, clean, long-period groundswell building through the weeks. Keep an eye on the synoptic charts – September is prime for hitting a moving target.

", "october": "

October: The Real Deal Returns

October sees a full gear shift: average swell height jumps to 2.0m with period 11.0s, and by late month, consistent overhead sets are the norm. Swell direction broadens: W (14.4%), WNW (17.1%), NW (11.7%), and NNW (12.1%) all contribute significant percentages. The NNW and NW swells, in particular, become regular players, offering the best quality for Dunmoran. Wind conditions show a slight decline in ideal frequency (27%), but the directional distribution remains promising. S (9.5%), SSW (10.2%), and SW (8.9%) are the most common offshore directions, often moderate to strong. The challenge is the increasing prevalence of frontal winds from WSW through NW that can blow onshore. When a high-pressure ridges in after a front, the combination of a fresh NW swell and a light S wind is magic. October is when the winter campaign begins – expect solid, powerful surf and a return to focused, committed wave-riding.

", "november": "

November: Consistency and Power

November deepens the winter pattern: average swell 2.3m, period 11.6s, with a well-distributed swell rose. WNW (15.6%), W (13.2%), NW (9.6%), and NNW (9.9%) are the primary swell directions, and the NW and NNW contributions are now at robust levels. This is the month where the direct NNW swell becomes a frequent occurrence, translating into some of the best wave quality of the year. Wind conditions remain challenging but rewarding for the persistent. Ideal conditions 26%. The dominant wind directions are again S (9.1%), SSW (9.0%), and SW (9.5%), with a notable increase in SE and SSE (8.5% and 10.1%) which are cross-shore. The north and northwest onshore winds are present but manageable. November is often called the 'big wave' month by local surfers – consistent, powerful, and with enough variety in swell direction to keep the sandbanks working. A negative NAO and strong low pressure near Iceland will pump overhead+ NNW swell with clean SW winds – the absolute apex of the season.

", "december": "

December: Winter Peak Persists

December closes the year with an average swell of 2.5m and period 12.1s, second only to January in sheer size. The swell direction is again dominated by W (12.1%), WNW (11.9%), NNW (8.5%), and NW (7.7%). The NNW contribution is particularly important, providing the most directly aligned, high-quality surf. Wind luck is at its lowest: ideal conditions only 24% of the time, the worst of the year. The wind rose shows strong S (10.8%), SSW (10.3%), and SW (9.8%) – plenty of offshore potential – but also potent onshore components from W (8.2%) and WNW (6.1%) that arrive with storm fronts. The short days and harsh weather test the commitment of even the most dedicated surfers. However, December also produces the most memorable sessions – solid, long-period swell hitting the coast under cold, clear skies with a fresh southerly wind. If you can handle the cold and the constant monitoring of weather charts, December rewards you with the kind of surf that stays etched in memory.

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