Long Sands - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life from October through March, delivering the most consistent and powerful swell to Long Sands. Average wave heights hover between 1.2m and 1.3m, with periods often in the 7.5-7.8s range – punchy and rideable, with plenty of storm-driven pulses pushing through. The wind regime plays heavily in our favor during these months, with dominant flow from the WSW and W blowing directly offshore across the EN-E facing beach. This is prime time – expect clean conditions on the best days thanks to ideal offshore winds blowing 29-37% of the time, funneling in long, grindy lines off the North Sea fetch.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

Spring and early autumn deliver a mixed bag with average swell heights of 1.0m (April) and 0.9m (September) and periods around 7.3s and 6.7s. The North Atlantic storm track begins to weaken, but occasional pulses still sneak through, especially in September when the hurricane-tinged leftovers can add a bit of life. Offshore-friendly winds – WSW and W – are still present roughly 25-30% of the time, though wind directions become more variable. You’ll find sessionable waves, but consistency drops and you’ll need to pick your windows carefully – a solid mid-range SW to W breeze can make all the difference.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer settles in with a whimper at Long Sands. Average wave heights plummet to 0.7-0.9m and periods drop into the 5.9-6.7s range – small, choppy, and often frustrating for anything but a log. The predominant swell shifts to shorter, locally generated windswell from the NNE, a direction that’s actually good for our spot, but the lack of consistent energy from the Atlantic leaves most days in the knee-to-waist fun-size range. Offshore wind frequencies also dip to 22-26%, making clean waves a rare treat. With the long summer days, you can still find a wave if you’re patient – but don’t expect to score anything epic.

May: Slackening Swell

May brings a noticeable drop in both size and consistency. Average swell height is just 0.9m, period 6.7s – fun-sized at best. The swell direction is overwhelmingly from NNE (27.6%), which is good but the low period means mostly short-period windswell. Wind conditions are less reliable: ideal offshore only 22% of the time, with the prevailing breeze starting to shift more from the W (8.2%) and WSW (8.7%). The North Atlantic storm track weakens, and we rely on local sea breeze cycles. Waves are small and often soft – groveling conditions for a fish or longboard. Still, early mornings can offer glassy, fun waves if a small frontal system passes through.