Parlementia - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic flexes its muscles from October through March, delivering consistent, powerful groundswells that march straight into Parlementia's NW-facing bay. Average surf heights sit in the 1.3-1.8m range with periods of 11-13s, meaning you get pumping, heavy waves during the peak. Offshore winds (S/SSW/SW/WSW) blow 36-51% of the time, often triggered by highs building over the Bay of Biscay. The NAO index tends to be negative or neutral, steering the jet stream south and fuelling extratropical storms that send long-period WNW and NW swell right in. When it all aligns, Parlementia fires.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September are transitional months where the swell machine slows but still offers fun, rippable waves. Average heights dip to 1.1-1.2m with periods around 10.6-11.0s – still punchy, but less consistent. Offshore wind frequency drops to 29%, making it a game of reading the charts. The Azores High starts to nudge north in April and retreats in September, mixing in longer gaps between groundswells and more variable conditions. You won't score epic sessions every day, but when the combo works, the lineup is uncrowded and the waves are solid.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer in the Bay of Biscay is a quiet affair. From May to August, average swell height hovers around 0.9-1.0m and periods drop to 9.0-10.1s – mostly small, fun-sized grovelers. The dominant NW windswell is often accompanied by onshore winds (W/WNW/NW/NNW) that blow 40-50% of the time, leaving only 15-23% offshore conditions. The Azores High parks itself over the region, producing light but often unfavourable breezes. While micro-sessions on a longboard are possible, don't expect firing waves. The odd late-summer hurricane remnant or distant low can produce a brief spike, but reliability is low.

May: Enter the Longboard Zone

May is the gateway to the low season. Average swell height drops to 1.0m with a period of 10.1s – small, fun-sized for the most part. The swell is overwhelmingly from NW (50.1%) and WNW (40.8%), but nearly 70% of that is under 1.5m. Offshore wind frequency plummets to 23%, with onshore W and WNW winds becoming dominant (13.6% + 16.0%). The Azores High is firmly in place, bringing light but often unfavourable breezes. When a southerly airflow sets up, you can get clean lines, but you'll be groveling on a log or fish. Not a month for the performance surfer, but easy fun for the longboard crew.