Ferrugem - surf spot statistics

Ferrugem in Brazil offers consistent surf year-round, but the best conditions typically occur between May and September. During these months, the swell is predominantly groundswell (peaking at 42% in May and June), which provides cleaner, more powerful waves compared to the windswell-dominated conditions in other months. Mean swell size also increases slightly, averaging around 1.6-1.7m, with May to August delivering the most reliable wave heights. Wind conditions, however, remain challenging throughout the year, with bad winds (onshore or cross-shore) dominating over 70% of the time. The least unfavorable winds occur from May to July (25-26% good wind days), though even then, clean conditions are relatively rare. September stands out with the largest average swell size (1.9m) but suffers from the worst wind conditions (only 14% good wind days). From October to April, the surf is smaller and more windswell-driven, with January, February, and December showing the weakest groundswell influence (16-19%) and the highest frequency of poor winds (79-87%). Overall, mid-year (May-August) provides the best compromise between swell quality and size, though surfers should be prepared for frequent onshore winds. Early mornings or sessions following wind shifts may offer brief clean conditions, but consistent offshore breezes are rare at this spot.

February at Ferrugem offers fair to good surf conditions with an average swell height of 1.4m and a decent period of 8.8s, providing consistent and relatively clean waves. The swell is predominantly from the E to SSE, with the majority of waves in the 0.5-2.5m range, peaking in the 1-1.5m category (most frequent from ENE, E, and SE directions). Larger swells (2m+) are less common but occur mostly from the S and SSE. Wind conditions are somewhat mixed, with only 21% of days offering ideal offshore or light cross-shore winds (typically ENE to E). Stronger onshore winds (NNE to S) are frequent, which can create chop, especially when exceeding 20kph. The best sessions will come when swell direction aligns with lighter winds from the E or ENE, producing clean, workable waves. Intermediate to advanced surfers will find the most opportunities, though consistency is not as high as in peak season. Keep an eye on wind forecasts, as it can make or break the session.