Pigsty - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months as the polar jet stream strengthens and deepens, dragging a conveyor belt of powerful extratropical cyclones across the Norwegian Sea. Average swell heights climb from 1.3m in October to a peak of 1.6m in January, with periods regularly pushing into the 8-9s range. The dominant swell directions – WSW, W, WNW, and NW – align perfectly with Pigsty's west-northwest exposure, delivering consistent, groomed lines. Offshore winds from the east-northeast through southeast quadrant (ONO, O, OSO, SO) occur in the wake of passing lows, often under clearing skies. Despite a relatively low ideal wind frequency (11-15%), the combination of ample swell and occasional clean windows makes this the prime window for Pigsty's pumping, heavy, and firing waves.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September represent transitional months where the clash of spring and autumn patterns yields mixed results. In April, the average swell drops to 0.9m with a period of 7.5s as the storm track weakens. However, a high percentage of swell still arrives from the optimal W-NW directions (over 50%), offering fun-sized, rippable waves on the better days. September sees a slight uptick to 1.0m and 7.1s, with the first autumn lows beginning to rekindle the Atlantic. Ideal wind frequency hovers around 9-12%, meaning patience and a keen eye on the forecast are required to catch the windows when light offshore flow aligns with solid, long-period swell.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

From May through August, Pigsty enters a deep slumber. The North Atlantic high-pressure system dominates, suppressing storm activity and delivering average swell heights of just 0.7-0.8m and periods below 7s. The majority of swell arrives from the NW and W, but at small, groveling sizes (mostly under 1.5m). Onshore winds from the west and northwest are prevalent due to thermal gradients, and ideal offshore winds become scarce (only 6% frequency in June, July, and August). While the occasional WNW groundswell might sneak in, the combination of weak, short-period swell and unfavorable wind makes this period largely one for longboarders or travelers seeking more consistent waves elsewhere.

May: The Doldrums Settle

May marks the beginning of the low season. The average swell height is a meager 0.8m, with an average period of 6.8s – squarely in the short-period, choppy category. While NW swell (28.4%) still dominates, it arrives mostly in the tiny 0-0.5m and 0.5-1m ranges. The optimal swell directions are present, but they lack power and size. The wind is the real killer: ideal offshore flow drops to just 8%, with the predominant wind pattern shifting to NNW (21.9%) and NW (13.2%) – both onshore or cross-onshore. These winds easily blow out the already weak, small waves. The sea breeze also picks up as days get longer. On the rare occasion when a high-pressure system parks over Scandinavia and delivers a light ESE breeze, you might get a few fun, waist-high waves, but these windows are fleeting. May is a month to focus on other activities or travel to more consistent spots.