El Mongol - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic delivers its full fury during these months, with powerful extratropical cyclones churning out consistent, long-period swell from the NW to NNW that directly hits El Mongol's north-facing beach. Average wave heights range from 1.4m to 1.8m and periods frequently exceed 11s, often reaching 12-13s. The NAO index often turns negative, steering storm tracks southward and feeding the Bay of Biscay. Offshore winds from the S and SSW blow reliably 48-60% of the time, creating clean, glassy faces. This is the prime window for pumping, firing surf up to 2.5m+ on the best days.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

As the North Atlantic slowly transitions, swell energy drops with average heights around 1.0-1.3m and periods settling into the 9.8-10.6s range. The wind patterns shift: the frequency of ideal offshore winds decreases to 27-33%, and cross-shore or light onshore conditions become more common. Still, late-season storm pulses in September can deliver solid NW swell with punchy, rideable waves when the synoptic setup aligns. Spring months offer fun-sized surf for groveling, but expect less consistency.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer brings the Azores High dominating the eastern Atlantic, suppressing storm activity. Swell becomes small and short-period (0.9m, 8.7-9.0s on average), mostly from decaying NW swell trains. The wind pattern flips: onshore N and NE breezes become prevalent, and offshore winds from the south occur only 16-20% of the time. The result is typically choppy, messy conditions with small, weak waves. Only the occasional lucky window of S winds and a stray long-period swell can salvage a session, but generally this is a time for flat spells and groveling.

August: Glimmers of Hope

August shows a slight uptick in ideal wind frequency to 20%, and the average period inches back up to 9.0s. Swell heights remain low at 0.9m average, but there is a slightly higher proportion of 1-1.5m waves (13.7% from NW). The dominant swells are still NW and NNW. The wind pattern is still dominated by ENE and NE, but some afternoons see a sea breeze from the west that can groom the swell. Occasional southerly wind events can create clean, fun-sized waves, especially if a long-period outlier arrives. It's still a marginal month, but the signs of the approaching autumn season begin to appear.