La Torche - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months, with a steady stream of extratropical cyclones tracking across the basin. This delivers consistent, powerful groundswells from the W and WNW quadrants, with average wave heights ranging from 1.8m in March to 2.2m in January and December. Periods typically run between 11 and 12 seconds, offering punchy, long-period surf that handles any size. While favorable wind conditions (from the SW to NW quadrant) occur only 16% to 21% of the time, the sheer volume of swell energy makes the winter half-year the prime window for experienced surfers. When a high-pressure ridge sets up over the continent, a crisp offshore flow from the east can groom these powerful W walls into clean, lined-up sets – that is when the magic truly unfolds at La Torche.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

Shoulder months bring a noticeable drop in average swell heights, settling between 1.2m and 1.4m, with periods easing to 9-10 seconds. The frequency of favorable winds increases to 22-23%, providing more clean, glassy days. Swell directions remain dominated by W and WNW, but with a higher proportion of smaller, rideable waves in the 1-1.5m range. These months offer a sweet spot for all levels – enough power from distant lows to make it interesting, but with a better chance of uncrowded, smooth conditions. Spring and early autumn produce some of the most user-friendly days of the year.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer transforms the North Atlantic into a relative lull. Average wave heights bottom out at 1.0m, and periods shrink to 8.5-8.9 seconds, signaling a shift to weaker, shorter-period windswell. The dominant swells still come from the W and WNW, but often lack the energy to break with any real power. Favorable wind percentages dip as low as 16-19%, and the most common winds are from the NW quadrant, which, while technically favorable, frequently blow too strong for clean surfaces. Expect smaller, choppier surf during the summer months – best suited for longboards, foils, or the occasional lucky day when a tropical system or lingering North Atlantic low sends a pulse of waist-to-chest high waves with light offshore breezes.

January: The Heart of Winter Power

January delivers the highest average swell height of the year at 2.2m, with a powerful period of 12.0s. The swell direction is heavily weighted toward the W (25.2%) and WNW (15.9%), meaning La Torche catches the full force of North Atlantic lows. Over 65% of swell falls in the 1.5-2.5m range, making for excellent, powerful surf when conditions align. Unfortunately, favorable winds (from SW to NW) are only ideal 16% of the time, as the prevailing wind direction is from the SW (10.9%) and WSW (9.6%), often accompanying the storms. However, when high pressure builds to the north, an E to SE flow can groom the long-period W swell into clean, well-defined lines. Those days produce barreling, heavy waves that attract experienced chargers.