Oum El Bouir - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

The heart of the North Atlantic winter sends powerful, long-period swells marching into Oum El Bouir, with average wave heights between 1.6-1.7m and periods pushing 11-12 seconds. This is the most reliable time for quality surf, as the trade wind machine relaxes and offshore winds from the NE/ENE blow between 18-28% of the time. The swell direction leans heavily on NNW (45% of the energy), which is not the optimal W/WNW window, but the sheer power and consistency make it the standout season for bigger, cleaner waves.

Fair Surf Season (March, April, October)

As winter fades, the average swell height remains solid around 1.3-1.7m, but the wave periods start to drop (9-11s). The ideal wind window shrinks to 11-21%, yet offshore days still occur. Swell becomes even more dominated by N and NNW directions, particularly in March and April, which limits the wave quality compared to winter peaks. October offers a transitional pleasantness with 21% offshore wind but smaller swell (1.3m) – a sneak peek into the coming winter.

Low Surf Season (May - September)

The summer months bring a dramatic drop in surf quality. Average wave heights hover around 1.3-1.5m, but periods shorten to a choppy 7-8.5 seconds. The Azores High strengthens and pumps strong NNE trade winds across the Canary Current, making only 4-9% of the time ideal for surfing. Swell direction is overwhelmingly from the N and NNE, which combine with the onshore trades to create messy, wind-affected conditions. May and September see a slight uptick in period (8.4-8.5s) but still suffer from poor wind. This is the off-season for serious surf at Oum El Bouir.

November: Building to Prime Time

November sees a significant ramp-up in quality. Average height is 1.4m and period lengthens to 11.3s. Swell direction is more varied, with NNW (50.1%), NW (19.5%), and N (17.6%) all contributing. The ideal wind window opens to 26%, one of the best of the year. NE (27.8%) and NNE (32.3%) winds dominate, but with less intensity than in summer. The combination of increased period and favourable wind creates excellent conditions – especially after a deep low-pressure system passes north of the Canaries.