Parking Lots - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic really starts to flex its muscles from October through March, bringing the biggest and most powerful swell of the year to Parking Lots. Average wave heights hover around 1.5m, with periods consistently in the 10-second range, producing punchy, rideable waves that can occasionally fire into the pumping 1.5-2.5m range. The caveat? Offshore wind conditions (S, SSW) are scarce during these months, hitting only about 26-38% of the time. You'll need to pick your windows carefully, often waiting for a cold front to pass and swing the wind southerly. But when a N or NNW swell aligns with light south winds, the waves really come to life, offering clean, powerful lines.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

Spring and early fall offer a solid compromise. April and May see swell heights drop to around 1.1-1.3m and periods shorten slightly, but the wind conditions become more favorable, with ideal offshore breezes blowing 44-56% of the time. September is a real gem, with average swell at 1.1m and a period of 9.1s, and ideal wind 48% of the time. While the waves aren't as beefy as winter, you'll find more consistent, clean conditions with rideable waves in the 0.5-1.5m range. It's a great time to score fun, groveling waves without the winter crowds and brutal onshores.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer is the quietest period at Parking Lots. Swell heights bottom out at 1.0m and periods drop to a sluggish 6.7-7.3 seconds, meaning the waves are often small, weak, and choppy. While offshore wind percentages are decent (39-58%), the swell is almost exclusively from ENE and E directions, which don't fill into this north-facing beach. You'll be dealing with micro, groveling conditions at best. However, the occasional tropical storm or distant hurricane can spin up a long-period E or SE swell that might wrap in, but that's a rare treat. For consistent surf, this is the time to seek other exposures or take a break.

December: Peak Winter, Maximum Size, Minimal Clean Windows

December brings the highest average swell of the year at 1.6m with a 10.0s period, but the lowest ideal wind percentage at 26%. Swell direction is heavily from NE (42.9%) and NNE (24.3%), with favorable N and NNW swell at about 7.6%. Persistent ENE winds (39.5%) and NE winds (20.1%) mean onshore and cross-shore conditions are the norm. The waves are often big and powerful (many in the 1.5-2.5m range, some XL), but messy and choppy. The rare south wind window is your only hope for clean surf. When a cold front passes and the wind whips around to the south, you can experience epic, long-period, pumping waves. It's a gamble—you might score the session of the season, or you might get skunked. For the brave, December offers the rawest, most powerful surf of the year.