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.

January in Portrush offers variable but often surfable conditions, with an average swell height of 1.6m and a solid period of 11.7s, indicating consistent, well-formed waves. The dominant swell direction is from the northwest, with the highest frequency and energy in the 1-2.5m range (NW and WNW account for most larger swells). This setup typically provides clean, powerful lines when paired with favorable winds. However, only 6% of wind conditions are ideal (likely offshore or light cross-shore), as prevailing winds often come from southerly to westerly directions at moderate to strong speeds (10-50kph), which can create choppy or messy waves. The best chances for clean surf occur when high-pressure systems bring NW or W winds, but these are relatively rare. Expect a mix of smaller, weaker days and heavier, storm-driven sessions—ideal for experienced surfers who can handle onshore winds and bigger winter swells.