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.

January: Deep Freeze & Northern Pulse

January delivers the largest average swell of the year at 1.5m and a solid 10.0s period, but it's a mixed bag for quality. The swell direction is dominated by NE (32.9%), ENE (25.5%), and NNE (21.2%), none of which are ideal for this north-facing beach. Only about 13% of the swell comes from the favorable N, NNW, and NW quadrants. The wind is a major challenge—ideal offshore flow from S/SSW occurs only 2.8% of the time, while the prevailing ENE wind (36%) creates onshore or cross-shore chop. Strong extratropical storms in the North Atlantic do fire up long-period groundswells, but they often come with wicked winds. Your best bet is to watch for a cold front passage that brings a brief window of light south winds and a nice NNW swell—when that happens, the waves can be pumping, powerful, and clean.