Portrush - surf spot statistics

Portrush, UK, offers a mix of ground and wind swells throughout the year, with winter months providing the most consistent and surfable conditions. From January to March, ground swell dominates (59-69%), delivering the highest mean swell sizes (1.3-1.6m). However, these months also have the worst wind conditions, with bad winds occurring 91-94% of the time. Despite this, the strong, clean swells make early winter a prime window for experienced surfers willing to brave the challenging winds. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer transitional conditions. Ground swell decreases (21-43%), while wind swell becomes more prominent (46-51%). Swell sizes drop to 1.0-1.2m, but wind conditions remain poor (89-92% bad winds). September stands out with the best balance, offering a resurgence in ground swell (32%) and slightly improved winds (90% bad—still not ideal, but manageable). Summer (June-August) is the least favorable, with minimal ground swell (10-14%) and small mean sizes (0.7-0.8m). Wind conditions remain bad (91-92%), and wind swells dominate (52-61%), often creating choppy, less desirable waves. Late autumn (November-December) sees ground swell pick up again (52-58%) with larger waves (1.4-1.5m), but wind conditions worsen (92-93% bad). For the best waves, December through February is the peak window, though surfers must accept high wind risks. Spring and autumn provide smaller but occasionally cleaner sessions, while summer is mostly for beginners or longboarders in tiny conditions. Overall, Portrush rewards persistence—its best days are powerful but rare, requiring patience and local knowledge.

February in Portrush offers variable but often challenging conditions for surfers, with an average swell height of 1.5m and a solid period of 11.5s, indicating well-organized, powerful waves. The dominant swell direction is NW and WNW, which produces the most consistent and sizable waves—especially in the 1-2.5m range (accounting for over 30% of occurrences). These swells tend to be cleanest when paired with favorable winds, though ideal wind conditions (offshore or light cross-shore) only occur 7% of the time. Winds are frequently problematic, with strong WSW to S winds (20-50kph) prevalent, creating choppy or blown-out conditions. However, the occasional NW or NNW wind can clean up the NW swell for quality sessions. Expect a mix of smaller, manageable days and heavier, more powerful surf—best suited for experienced surfers comfortable with colder water and variable winds. Keep an eye on the wind forecast to time the cleaner sessions.