North Street seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The North Atlantic cranks up the energy as autumn deepens, and by October, North Street starts feeling the full force of powerful extratropical storms tracking across the basin. These systems generate long-period swell from the E to SSE quadrant that directly unloads onto this southeast-facing beach. During these months, average swell heights hold steady in the 1.3-1.4m range with periods often pushing into the 7-8s zone, giving you clean, punchy waves. The key is the dominance of offshore winds from the W through NNW—especially strong WNW and NW flows that blow clean and groom the faces. When a low-pressure system stalls off the coast and sends in a solid E/ESE swell under a crisp northwesterly, North Street turns into a well-shaped, rippable machine. Expect consistent surf with frequent firing days.
Fair Surf Season (April & September)
April and September sit as transitional bridges between the peak seasons. April sees the swell average drop slightly to 1.2m, with periods around 7.3s, as the storm track shifts north. Swell direction becomes more variable, with a notable spike in S and SSE energy—still directional to the spot but often accompanied by onshore winds from the same quadrant. The wind ideal percentage dips to 24%. However, when a late-season nor’easter or a passing front aligns a nice E/ESE swell with a NW wind, you get fun, clean waves. September brings a resurgence: average heights climb back to 1.2m, but periods jump to 8.4s, hinting at longer-period groundswells. The wind ideal percentage recovers to 30%, and the frequency of offshore WNW/NW winds increases. It’s a month of potential—you’ll see a mix of smaller summer leftovers and early winter gems.
Low Surf Season (May - August)
Summer settles in with a lazy pulse. From May through August, average swell heights hover around 0.9-1.1m, and periods stay under 7.5s. The dominant swell energy shifts firmly to the SSE and S quadrants—often generated by local sea breezes or distant tropical waves that lack the oomph for this open stretch of coast. While the wind blows offshore (WNW) a decent 27-35% of the time, the wave heights frequently drop below waist-high, making it a groveling session. May can still serve up the occasional fun-size E/ESE swell, but June, July, and August are largely dominated by weak, short-period windswell. The long, sunny days and light winds create a glassy morning window, but expect mostly small, soft waves ideal for longboards and enjoying the water rather than chasing power.
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Conditions at North Street in May
May: Small Beginnings
May sees the average swell height drop to 1.1m with a period of 7.2s. The swell direction is dominated by the south-southeast (SSE at 16.3%) and south (S at 17.9%), along with a strong showing from the east (14.7%) and east-southeast (11.7%). The east quadrant still provides occasional quality, but the wave heights are concentrated in the 0.5-1m and 1-1.5m ranges—fun-sized, groveling conditions. The wind ideal percentage rises slightly to 27%, thanks to a bit more stability in the offshore flows: SSW winds still dominate (14.4%), but you'll also find WNW (5.6%) and NW (4.4%) at lighter speeds. The best sessions come when a late-spring cool front pushes through, flicking the wind offshore and setting up a brief window of clean, small east swell. Most of the time, it's a longboard or groveler day.
Average Spot conditions at North Street in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at North Street during May. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at North Street for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at North Street for May. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at North Street.
