Latigo Point - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

The winter months at Latigo Point are when the North Pacific roars to life, sending a steady diet of long-period west and southwest swells toward the Southern California coastline. While this south-facing cove sits somewhat sheltered from the full force of the open ocean, the combination of powerful groundswells (averaging 1.0-1.1m with periods of 12-12.4s) and a high frequency of offshore winds from the north quadrant creates the most consistent and high-quality surf of the year. December leads the pack with a whopping 70% of wind conditions being ideal, closely followed by January (67%) and November (65%). During these months, strong extratropical storms spinning down from the Gulf of Alaska generate ample swell energy that wraps into Latigo, and when a high-pressure system sets up over the Great Basin, the resulting northerly flow cleans up the surface beautifully. Expect frequent sessions with clean, shoulder-high waves peeling nicely along the reef.

Fair Surf Season (March, April, October)

As the winter storm track begins to ease and summer patterns start to emerge, the spring and early autumn months offer a mixed bag. March and April still see a decent amount of west and southwest swell (average heights around 1.1-1.2m, periods 11.8-11.9s), but the percentage of favorable offshore winds drops to 45-51%. This means more afternoons get spoiled by onshore sea breezes, though mornings can still be glassy. October marks the transition back into winter, with a noticeable uptick in favorable wind frequency (51%) and the first significant swells of the season. These shoulder months are prime for patient surfers willing to pick their windows – the swell is there, but you often have to work around periods of cross-shore or light onshores.

Low Surf Season (May - September)

Summer and early fall are largely the slow season at Latigo Point. The North Pacific storm machine powers down, resulting in smaller average swell heights (0.9m for most months) and a dramatic shift in wind patterns. The percentage of ideal offshore winds plummets to as low as 24% in June and only climbs back to 42% by September. During this period, the dominant swell directions shift more toward the south and southwest, but the prevailing winds – frequently from the southwest and west – blow directly onshore or cross-shore, chopping up the surface and ruining wave quality. While long-period groundswells from the southern hemisphere can occasionally sneak in (especially in July and August), they are often accompanied by weak, local windswell and thermal breezes that make the surf bumpy and inconsistent. This is the time for small-wave boards and early morning missions before the wind kicks up.

June: Deep Summer Doldrums

June represents the low point of the year at Latigo Point. Average swell height drops to 1.0m, though periods hold at a solid 12.4s – meaning the swell is long-period but lacking power. The direction distribution is dominated by WSW (33.8%), SW (26.4%), and W (27.7%), with SSW contributing 11.2% – these are all from the west-southwest, which is not ideal for a south-facing spot. The real killer is wind: only 24% of the time are conditions considered ideal. Onshore winds from the southwest (SW 12.4%, WSW 19.0%) and west (W 15.6%) prevail, often blowing 10-20kph and ruining any chance of clean waves. The light wind days (0-10kph) are common but come from directions that are still onshore or cross-shore. You'll find small, choppy surf most days, with the occasional clean early morning if a weak offshore from the north surprises you. Southern hemi swells are possible but rarely make it past the Channel Islands with any quality.