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.

May at Mavericks tends to offer smaller but consistent surf, with an average swell height of 1.4m and a solid period of 12.1s, indicating clean, well-spaced waves. The dominant swell directions are W (18.31% of waves in the 1-1.5m range) and WNW (11.17% in 1-1.5m, plus bigger sets up to 2.5m+ occasionally). These angles work well with the spot’s orientation, producing rideable conditions, though size is generally modest compared to winter. Wind quality is hit-or-miss: only 15% of days see ideal offshore (E/ENE) or light cross-shore winds, while W/NW winds (common in spring) often create chop or onshore junk. The biggest issue is wind strength—WNW sees 17.63% of days at 10-20kph and 8.44% at 20-30kph, which can ruin otherwise fun surf. For advanced riders, May offers smaller, technical waves when winds align, but expect frequent compromises with windswell mixed in. It’s not the prime season, but there are windows for performance surfing or training when conditions click.