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.

October in Portrush offers a mixed bag of surf conditions, suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers. The average swell height is 1.2m with a decent period of 9.7s, providing consistent, rideable waves. The dominant swell directions come from the NW and WNW, contributing to the majority of waves in the 0.5-2.5m range, with NW swells being the most frequent and sizable—often producing surfable waves in the 1-2.5m range. While smaller waves (0.5-1.5m) are common, there’s a fair chance of larger, more powerful sets (1.5-2.5m) when WNW/NW swells combine with favorable conditions. Wind is the main variable; only 8% of the time is it ideal (light offshore or cross-shore), but strong onshore winds from the S-SW-W quadrant are frequent, creating choppier conditions. Surfers should watch for NW swells coupled with lighter N/NE winds for cleaner, more organized waves. Overall, October delivers workable surf, though patience and timing are key to scoring the best sessions.