Ericeira - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life from October through March, delivering the most consistent and powerful swell to Ericeira's west-facing coastline. During these months, average wave heights hover between 2.0m and 2.6m, with periods often exceeding 12 seconds — classic long-period groundswell generated by frequent extratropical storms traversing the North Atlantic. The NAO index often shifts negative, steering stronger, more organized low-pressure systems toward the Iberian Peninsula. Offshore wind conditions improve as well, with ideal wind percentages climbing to 24-28%, typically from the north and northwest (NO, ONO). This creates lined-up, hollow waves at Ericeira's world-class reef and beach breaks. This is the time to chase big, powerful surf.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September serve as transitional windows. Swell heights drop slightly to 1.6-2.0m and periods shorten to 10.5-11.1 seconds as the storm track begins to shift. However, the combination of moderate long-period and shorter-period windswell still provides plenty of rideable days. The wind becomes more variable — ideal percentages fall to 17-20% — with more spring-like westerly and northerly flows. Expect fun, rippable waves on good days, especially when a passing low taps into the northern Atlantic swell window. These months reward flexible scheduling and a keen eye on the charts.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

From May through August, Ericeira experiences its quietest surf. Average swell heights drop to 1.4-1.7m and periods shorten to 8.5-9.9 seconds, dominated by local windswell from the north-northwest (NNW, NW). The wind regime shifts dramatically: the Portuguese trade wind pattern strengthens, blowing 20-40kph from the north up to 44% of the time, creating choppy onshore conditions for the west-facing breaks. Ideal offshore wind percentages fall to a mere 7-13%, making clean waves a rare commodity. While smaller days can offer fun, groveling sessions for those on the right equipment, the real heavy moments are few and far between. Summer surf here is best tackled with a longboard or a forgiving fish, and a good dose of patience.

January: Peak of the Atlantic Fury

January is the heart of the North Atlantic storm season, and Ericeira feels it. The average swell height hits 2.6m with a powerful 13.0s period — the highest of the year. Swell direction is dominated by the northwest quadrant: NW accounts for 21.9% of all swell, WNW for 17.7%, and NNW for 9.5%, all within the optimal swell window. These long-period groundswells wrap into the west-facing coast with remarkable energy, producing heavy, pumping waves in the 1.5-2.5m range and even XL sets exceeding 2.5m (from NW and WNW at 1.0% and 1.2% respectively). The wind is ideal 28% of the time, with the most favorable directions being north (13.0% total, with moderate speeds 10-30kph) and NNE (10.8%). These offshore flows (from NO, ONO) groom the swell into clean, lined-up walls. However, when the wind swings to the south and southwest (SSW 5.2%, SW 5.7%, W 4.0%), conditions quickly deteriorate into choppy, messy surf. January is a month for experienced surfers seeking size and power — dawn patrols with north wind are your best bet for epic, walled-up perfection.