Playa El Rey - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (December - March)

The North Pacific high flexes its muscles from December through March, driving a steady stream of offshore N to NNE winds down the coast. This is when Playa El Rey truly shines. Swell energy, while averaging just 1.0 to 1.1 meters, comes with a long-period punch – 12 to 13.5 seconds – from the SSW and SW. The combination of offshore glass and clean, lined-up waves makes for some of the most rippable surf of the year. Think fun-sized to solid 1-1.5m sets with the occasional 1.5m+ pulse when a stronger Southern Hemisphere storm sneaks through. Early mornings are your window.

Fair Surf Season (June - October)

As the Northern Hemisphere heats up, the ITCZ marches north and the Southern Hemisphere roars to life. From June through October, average swell heights climb to 1.3-1.4 meters with periods still in the 13-second range – powerful, long-period southern energy. The catch: the same storm systems that generate the swell also shift the wind belt, increasing the prevalence of onshore SW and S flow. Ideal wind percentages hover around 20-28%, making those windows of offshore N winds (often early mornings) precious. When the synoptic puzzle aligns, you get firing 1.5-2.5m days with heavy, clean walls. But be prepared to pick your sessions.

Low Surf Season (April - May and November)

April and May represent a transition between the two main swell windows. The wind patterns become more variable, with the percentage of favorable offshore winds dropping to 20-22%. Swell heights bump up to 1.2-1.3m and periods stretch to 14 seconds – plenty of juice – but consistent clean conditions become harder to find. November is the trickiest month: only 16% ideal wind and the average swell dips back to 1.2m with a period around 12.4 seconds. The trade-off is that when a cold front pushes through from the north, you can score unexpected gems. For the dedicated surfer willing to chase the small windows, there is reward; for the casual traveler, this is the time to explore other spots.

July: The Onshore Grind

July continues the pattern of southern hemi swell – average 1.3m, period 13.4 seconds – but the wind turns more challenging. Ideal wind drops to just 18%, the second lowest of the year. The swell is almost exclusively from the SSW (91.2%), with 66.3% in the 1-1.5m range and 20.1% in the 1.5-2m range. That's plenty of power, but the persistent onshore S and SW winds make it hard to find clean conditions. The few offshore windows – typically associated with a passing front or a strong north wind event – produce absolutely firing surf. July is for the dedicated surfer who can read the charts and pounce on the gaps.