Mavericks - surf spot statistics

Mavericks, known for its powerful and often dangerous waves, offers the best surfing conditions during the winter months, particularly from November through February. During this period, ground swell dominates, with percentages ranging from 87% in November to 93% in January, ensuring consistent, high-quality waves generated by distant storms. The mean swell size peaks at 1.9m in January and February, dropping slightly to 1.8m in December, which is ideal for experienced surfers seeking challenging surf. Wind conditions are most favorable in January and December, with good winds occurring around 50% of the time, though February sees a dip in favorable winds (42%). Outside these months, wind conditions deteriorate significantly, with bad wind frequencies above 50% from March onward, peaking at 89% in July. Swell quality declines noticeably in spring and summer, with ground swell percentages dropping as low as 50% in June and wind swell becoming more prominent, leading to less predictable and generally smaller waves (1.0m–1.5m). September and October mark a transitional period, with improving ground swell (71%–82%) and marginally better wind conditions (21%–36%), but still fall short of winter’s consistency. For surfers targeting Mavericks’ legendary waves, the prime window is clearly winter, when large, clean ground swells and relatively manageable wind conditions combine to create world-class surf.

June at Mavericks is a relatively quiet month for surfers, with an average swell height of just 1.3m and a decent period of 11.7s. The swell is primarily dominated by WNW, W, and SW directions, with the majority of waves falling in the 1-2m range—WNW produces the most sizable waves, occasionally reaching 2.5m+. However, wave consistency is low, and clean conditions are rare, as favorable offshore winds (ideal for surfing) only occur 12% of the time. The dominant wind directions are W and WNW, frequently blowing at 10-30kph, which can create onshore or cross-shore chop, further reducing surf quality. Expect mostly small, inconsistent surf with occasional mid-sized sets, but wind conditions will often be less than ideal. Only the most dedicated surfers will find worthwhile sessions, typically early mornings before winds pick up. For big-wave specialists, June is a downtime—wait for winter swells.