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.

In July, Ferrugem offers decent surf conditions with an average swell height of 1.7m and a favorable period of 9.7s, providing consistent, well-formed waves. The predominant swell direction comes from the SSE to S, contributing to the majority of waves in the 1-2.5m range, with a notable portion reaching overhead heights (11% at 1.5-2m from the S direction alone). While smaller waves (0.5-1.5m) are common from the E to NE, the best quality and size occur with southerly swells, which are more powerful and frequent. Wind conditions are somewhat mixed, with only 21% of the time being ideal for surfing—typically when winds are light (0-10kph) and offshore or sideshore from the NE to E. However, stronger onshore winds from the N to SSW can create choppy conditions, particularly when exceeding 20kph. For experienced surfers, July can deliver solid sessions, especially when S swells combine with lighter winds, but variable wind patterns mean timing is key. Beginners may find the conditions challenging when waves are larger or winds are unfavorable.