Guincho - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life as autumn transitions into winter, and Guincho feels the full force of the Atlantic fetch. During these months, average swell heights range from 2.0m to 2.6m, with periods consistently above 11s and peaking at 13s in January. The dominant swell directions are WNW and NW, which align perfectly with the beach's WNW exposure, delivering powerful, long-period groundswells. Wind conditions are relatively favorable, with ideal offshore winds (from the west quadrant) occurring 20-25% of the time. This is the prime window for pumping, heavy waves in the 1.5-2.5m range, and occasionally XL swells exceeding 2.5m. The combination of strong winter storms and a favorable NAO pattern often sets up consecutive days of epic surf.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transitional months see a noticeable drop in average swell height to around 1.6-2.0m, with periods slipping to 10.5-11.1s. While still capable of producing fun, rippable waves, the consistency is lower. Ideal wind percentages hover around 11-12%, meaning more days are plagued by onshore breezes from the north or northwest. However, when a high-pressure system sets up over the Bay of Biscay, light offshore winds from the west can create pristine conditions, especially on the smaller, smoother days.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer brings the doldrums to Guincho. Average swell heights drop to 1.4-1.7m and periods shorten to 8.5-9.9s, producing mostly choppy, low energy waves. The dominant swell shifts to NNW and NW, often short-period windswell. Ideal offshore wind percentages plummet to 2-9%, as the prevailing northerly winds (the Nortada) become strong and persistent, blowing directly onshore or cross-shore. This makes for mostly messy conditions, though early morning glass-offs can occasionally offer a fleeting window of small, fun-sized surf.

May: The Nortada Takes Over

May marks the transition to summer mode. Average swell height drops to 1.7m and period to 9.9s, now in the average range. The swell distribution shifts heavily to NNW (31.5%) and NW (30.5%), with WNW (17.4%) still contributing. These are often short-period windswells, with most waves in the 1-2m range. Ideal wind plummets to 9%, as offshore directions only account for about 14% of wind. The northerly wind becomes the dominant player: N (26.7%) and NNW (23.0%) combine for nearly 50% of all wind, creating persistent onshore or side-offshore chop. Guincho becomes a small, fun-sized wave spot in May, best tackled early before the wind ramps up.