Long Beach - surf spot statistics

Long Beach in South Africa offers consistent surf conditions year-round, with a strong dominance of ground swell, minimal wind swell, and virtually no flat days. The best months for surfers are generally from April to September, when ground swell percentages peak (88–92%), and average swell size increases, reaching its maximum in July (3.3m). May stands out with 91% ground swell and slightly better wind conditions (23% good winds), though wind quality remains challenging overall, with bad winds prevalent (77–84% most months). Winter months (June–August) bring larger swells (3.2–3.3m) but retain poor wind conditions (80–82% bad winds). Autumn (April–May) and early spring (September) offer a balance of solid swell size (2.6–3.0m) and marginally improved wind chances (19–23% good winds). Summer (December–March) has slightly smaller swells (2.5m) and the worst wind conditions (83–84% bad winds), making it less ideal despite the high ground swell consistency. For advanced surfers prioritizing wave quality, late autumn to early winter (May–July) is optimal, though offshore winds remain rare—patience and flexibility are key for scoring the best sessions.

October at Long Beach delivers solid surf conditions with a mean swell height of 2.6m and a decent average period of 11.9s, indicating powerful, well-formed waves. The dominant swell directions are SW (28.6% of waves over 1.5m) and SSW (8.6% over 1.5m), producing consistent, rideable waves with good energy. Wind conditions are less ideal, with only 16% of winds being favorable for surfing—typically lighter offshore or cross-offshore variations from the NW quadrant. However, strong onshore ESE-SE winds occur frequently (20-30% of the time), often disrupting clean conditions, especially at higher speeds (20-50kph). Expect a mix of quality sessions when winds cooperate and challenging chop when onshore flow dominates. Bigger swells (2m+) are common, making it suitable for experienced surfers, but wind alignment will dictate session quality.