Les Culs Nuls - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic delivers its heaviest punches during these months, with average swell heights of 1.6-1.8m and long periods (11.3-13.0s) from the NW and WNW corridors. Dominant strong low-pressure systems tracking across the Atlantic generate consistent, powerful groundswell that hits this west-facing beach with maximum intensity. Offshore winds from the SW to WNW quadrant, though counterintuitive for a west-facing spot, are actually the most prevalent and create glassy conditions, especially when the winds are light. January and February stand out with the highest swell heights and idyllic wind percentages around 36-38%, making for firing, heavy waves in the 1.5-2.5m range. The months of October, November, and December show a ramp-up in size and period as winter storms intensify, offering frequent pumping sessions.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

Transitional months bring a mixed bag. April sees the average swell drop to 1.2m with periods around 11.0s, while September averages 1.1m at 10.6s. The dominant swell still arrives from the NW and WNW, but with less power and consistency. Wind conditions become more variable, with ideal offshore percentages dropping to 26% in April and 29% in September. However, during these months, the North Atlantic can still fire up with a late-season storm or early autumn depression, delivering solid, rippable waves when the swell and wind align. These months offer a good compromise: fewer crowd, and the chance for punchy, fun-sized waves on the better days.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer sets in, and the surf slows to a crawl. Average swell heights bottom out at 0.9m from June through August, with periods dropping to 9.0-9.4s. The dominant swell remains from the NW, but now consists largely of weak, short-period windswell generated by summer high-pressure systems and mild North Atlantic lows. The ideal wind percentage plummets to 18-22%, as the region falls under the influence of stronger onshore breezes from the NW and W that ruin wave quality. Most days are small and choppy, with only thigh-high grovelers or micro waves. Occasionally, a strong tropical cyclone or unusual summer storm can produce a brief pulse of long-period swell, but these events are rare. For dedicated surfers, a longboard or foiling setup is often the tool of choice during this stretched-out flat spell.

May: Sinking into Summer Slump

Average swell height drops further to 1.0m with a period of 10.1s. Swell is still predominantly from NW (50.1%) and WNW (40.8%), but now mostly in the 0.5-1.5m range. Only 6.9% of waves exceed 1.5m, meaning most days are small to fun-sized. Ideal wind percentage plummets to 22%, as the prevailing wind shifts more onshore. The dominant wind directions are from the NW, NNW, WNW, and W, with speeds often in the 10-20kph range, creating weak, lumpy conditions. May is a month for the longboard or funboard, with occasional pulses of short-period windswell keeping things just barely rideable.