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.

January: Peak Winter Power

January is the heart of winter, delivering an average swell height of 2.2m and a long-period average of 12.0s. The swell rose is dominated by W (25.2%) and WNW (15.9%), with significant contributions from WSW (10.3%) – all optimal directions that wrap nicely into Porzcarn's west-northwest exposure. A substantial portion of the waves fall into the 1.5-2.5m range, meaning pumping, heavy conditions are the norm. Offshore wind opportunities are limited to just 15% of the time, but when the wind swings from the east or southeast, the waves turn glassy and lined up. The wind rose shows a strong component from S through WSW, which are onshore and destructive. Meteorologically, the North Atlantic storm track is at its peak; deep lows with 970mb cores churn out consistent, powerful long-period swells. Beware of storm fronts swinging through – they bring strong westerly winds that quickly chop up the surf. But for the hardcore charger, January is prime time for XL waves at Porzcarn, especially when the NAO is positive and storms barrel straight into the Bay of Biscay.