Pine Grove - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - October)

During these months, the predominant wind patterns shift to offer a higher frequency of offshore flow from the south and southwest, creating clean, groomed conditions. While the swell remains modest and primarily east-oriented, the combination of offshore winds and fun-sized waves (0.5-1.5m) delivers the most consistent surfable waves at Pine Grove. The average wave period hovers around 6 seconds, providing punchy, rideable waves ideal for shortboards and grovelers.

Fair Surf Season (November - April)

The winter half of the year brings a slight uptick in average swell height and period due to the increased activity of extratropical storms in the North Atlantic. However, the dominant wind direction tilts toward east and northeast, which is onshore for this north-facing beach. This results in more choppy, messy conditions despite the slightly larger swell. Persistent onshore flow limits the quality, but occasional windows of offshore winds can still produce fun waves, often when a strong high-pressure system sets up to the north.

Low Surf Season (Year-Round)

Due to its north-facing orientation and the dominant east swell direction, Pine Grove rarely sees optimal wave conditions. The majority of the year features small, gutless waves with short periods, and the wind is often unfavorable. Even during the best months, surfers must be selective, picking the rare days when a south wind coincides with any east groundswell. The lack of north swell means this spot will never truly fire, remaining a consistent but low-energy option for those willing to work with what the Atlantic provides.

May: The Offshore Window Opens

May delivers a dramatic shift in wind patterns, with ideal wind conditions now 61% of the time. Average swell height holds at 0.8m and period at 6.0s. Swell becomes even more dominated by east-southeast (64.2%) and east (20.1%), meaning the wave energy is almost entirely from the southeast quadrant. The wind, however, is much more favorable: east-southeast (33.2%) and east (32.5%) are still common, but these are often light and the frequency of true offshore winds from the south-southwest increases. The combination of light to moderate offshore flow and persistent small east-southeast swell allows the beach to produce clean, rippable waves in the 0.5-1m range. While the swell is not powerful, the quality is consistently higher than any other month. This is the start of the best season for Pine Grove, where weekday morning sessions with offshore breezes become more predictable.