Porzcarn - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during the autumn and winter months, and Porzcarn reaps the rewards. From October through March, the average swell height sits comfortably in the 1.6m to 2.2m range, with wave periods frequently exceeding 10 seconds and often reaching 12 seconds. This is prime time for solid, powerful groundswells from the optimal W to NW quadrant. The percentage of ideal offshore winds (from the E to SE quadrant) hovers around 15-20%, meaning that while winter storms bring plenty of onshore wind and rain, the windows of clean, lined-up surf are well worth the wait. Expect frequent swells generated by deep low-pressure systems tracking across the Atlantic, with the NAO index playing a key role in steering the storm track. When the jet stream aligns, Porzcarn gets absolute pumping, long-period waves with manageable winds out of the east.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September serve as transitional months, offering a blend of leftover winter swell and early autumn pulse. In April, average swell drops to 1.4m with a period of 10.3s, and ideal wind conditions improve to 20% – a decent trade-off for cleaner skies and lighter winds. September sees similar stats with 1.2m average and 9.9s period, but the swell direction remains dominated by W and WNW, providing punchy, rippable waves. These months can deliver fun sessions without the harsh winter conditions, but consistency is lower; you'll need to watch the synoptic charts for the right combination of low-pressure remnants and high-pressure cells setting up offshore easterlies.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer at Porzcarn is a quiet affair. From May through August, average swell heights dip to just 1.0–1.2m, and wave periods drop into the 8–9 second range, resulting in mostly short-period, windswell-driven surf. The swell direction is overwhelmingly from W and WNW, but these are typically weaker, less organized waves. More critically, the percentage of ideal offshore wind falls to 12–19%, with the prevailing northwesterly to westerly flow being onshore and detrimental. While occasional groundswells from distant storms can bump up the size, they're rare. The best chance for a session comes when an Atlantic low slides down the Bay of Biscay, generating a brief pulse of longer-period swell that coincides with a high-pressure ridge delivering light easterly breezes. Otherwise, you're looking at small, groveling conditions best suited for a longboard or a foil.

February: Consistent Groundswell Machine

February runs neck and neck with January for size and power, averaging 2.1m at 12.0s. The swell distribution remains nearly identical, with W (25.4%) and WNW (17.8%) leading the charge, plus a healthy 10.3% from WSW. Waves in the 1.5-2.5m+ brackets are abundant, offering firing barrels and critical sections. Ideal wind percentages tick up slightly to 18%, thanks to a modest increase in easterly quadrant winds. Look for high-pressure systems building over continental Europe to back the wind offshore. The wind rose shows a notable presence of winds from NE through SE, which are clean sideshore to slightly offshore. However, the dominant winds still blow from SW to W, so you have to pick your days. February often sees the peak of winter strength – the ocean is thoroughly churned up, so along with the big swell comes a lot of ocean energy. When the wind aligns, the period is long enough to produce groomed, powerful lines that peel down the point.