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Pico da Mota - surf spot statistics
Pico da Mota seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The North Atlantic roars to life during these months as powerful extratropical cyclones barrel across the mid-latitudes, sending consistent, long-period groundswells towards Portugal’s west coast. Average swell heights range from 2.1m to 2.8m with periods frequently exceeding 12 seconds, producing pumping to XL conditions at Pico da Mota. The beach’s NW exposure captures the dominant NW and WNW swell trains perfectly. Offshore wind frequencies climb to 22-31%, often delivered by southerly airflow ahead of advancing cold fronts. These are the months to score clean, heavy waves with plenty of punch.
Fair Surf Season (April & September)
Transitional months bracket the summer lull. April still sees solid NW swell (avg 2.1m, period 11.2s) but wind patterns become less reliable, with offshore wind only 16% of the time. September reawakens with a slight uptick in swell (1.7m, 10.5s) and more offshore windows (14%). These months offer a mix of fun-sized surf and occasional groundswell bursts, though consistency takes a backseat to the peak season.
Low Surf Season (May - August)
The Azores High strengthens, deflecting storm tracks northward. As a result, swell heights drop to 1.5-1.8m, periods shorten to 8.6-9.9s, and the dominant NNW swell becomes windswell or short-period background energy. Offshore wind plummets to 4-13%, as the prevailing northerly and northwesterly winds blow directly onshore, ruining surface conditions. This is the time for smaller boards and groveling, but be ready to sit out long flat spells. The rare long-period pulse from a distant hurricane or cut-off low can still deliver a gem.
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Conditions at Pico da Mota in May
May: Grovel Season Begins
May sees the surf shrink to an average of 1.8m at 9.9s. The swell direction shifts firmly into the NNW (29.9%) and NW (28.4%) quadrants, with very little energy above 2.5m. Most waves are in the 1-1.5m range – small and fun-sized. Offshore wind plummets to 13%, dominated by strong N winds (28.9%) and NNW winds (18.2%) that destroy wave faces. The short period indicates local windswell rather than groundswell. This is the time to break out the groveler and chase shifty peaks. Look for early mornings when the sea breeze hasn’t filled in, or hope for a rare southerly wind event.
Average Spot conditions at Pico da Mota in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Pico da Mota during May. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Pico da Mota for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Pico da Mota for May. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Pico da Mota.