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.

October: Autumn Surge

October is where it all comes together – average swell height jumps to 1.1m, period to 7.6s, and ideal wind frequency hits 34%. Swell direction is well-rounded with NNE (13.0%), N (7.4%), ENE (8.1%), and E (7.0%) all contributing. The wind pattern reverts to a strong WSW (12.7%) and W (11.5%) bias. Powerful extratropical cyclones track across the North Atlantic, sending consistent groundswell with periods often exceeding 10s. The combination of size, period, and offshore wind creates classic autumn surf – hollow, punchy waves that can handle a shortboard. This is arguably the start of the best season.