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 November, Ferrugem experiences an average swell height of 1.7m with a solid period of 8.9s, suggesting consistent and well-formed waves. The majority of the swell comes from the NE to SSE, with the most dominant directions being ENE (7.24% at 1-1.5m) and E (9.71% at 1-1.5m, 7.87% at 1.5-2m). Larger waves (2-2.5m) are most frequent from the E (2.88%), ESE (2.29%), and S (4.20%), while waves over 2.5m are rare but occasionally come from the S (0.14%). Wind conditions are ideal for surfing only 14% of the time, with the majority of winds blowing from the NNE to SSW at 10-30kph, often creating cross-shore or onshore conditions. NE to ENE winds (6.26% and 4.81% at 20-30kph) are common and can lead to choppier conditions, while lighter winds from the E and SE are less frequent but more favorable for cleaner waves. Overall, November offers decent surf with a mix of rideable conditions, though wind quality is inconsistent—early mornings or specific wind shifts may provide the best windows for cleaner surf.