Oceanside - surf spot statistics

Oceanside, USA, offers consistent surf conditions year-round, with ground swell dominating the majority of the time, peaking from May to September at 92–96%. However, the best surf months are typically late fall and winter—November through February—when ground swell remains strong (75–83%) and wind conditions improve slightly compared to summer. During these months, mean swell sizes hover around 0.8–0.9m, with offshore or lighter onshore winds more likely (37–40% good wind conditions). Summer (May–September) sees extremely reliable ground swell (95+%), but strong onshore winds prevail (bad conditions 76–79% of the time), making sessions challenging despite the consistency. Swell size drops marginally in summer (0.8m), and while there’s almost no flat days, wind quality is the limiting factor. Spring (March–April) and early fall (October) are transitional periods, with still-decent ground swell (83–89%) but worsening wind odds (70–75% bad winds). For the best balance of swell and favorable winds, target late autumn or winter, though summer can work if you prioritize wave frequency over wind conditions.

April at this surf spot offers relatively consistent but generally small to moderate conditions, with an average swell height of 0.9m and a solid period of 14.5s, indicating well-spaced, clean waves. Most swells come from the SSW (37.82% of waves in the 0.5-1m range) and SW (14.71% in 0.5-1m), with occasional bigger sets from the W direction (7.17% in 1-1.5m, 2.68% in 1.5-2m). Wind is favorable for surfing only 25% of the time, with the most common conditions being light to moderate WSW (4.17% 0-10kph, 6.11% 10-20kph) and W winds (4.62% 0-10kph, 7.14% 10-20kph), which can create texture or slight chop. Given the swell direction and period, expect mostly clean but smaller waves with occasional overhead sets when W swells push through. Wind quality is hit-or-miss, so dawn patrol or glassy evenings are ideal. Overall, April is decent for surfers comfortable with waist-high to head-high waves but not epic for those chasing consistent power.