Rockaway-Manzanita - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Pacific roars to life from October through March, delivering a consistent onslaught of powerful, long-period swell from the W-NW quadrant. Average wave heights consistently top 2.5m, with peak months like December averaging 3.0m and periods often exceeding 12s. This aligns with the seasonal intensification of the Aleutian Low and a parade of deep extratropical cyclones marching across the northern Pacific. Combined with offshore wind from the E-ENE sectors that occurs roughly 35% of the time, these are the months when Rockaway-Manzanita truly shines. Expect sets in the pumping 1.5-2.5m range, with occasional XL pulses that demand respect. The most consistent windows open when high pressure ridges over the Pacific Northwest lock in clean E flow, setting up long, lined-up walls peeling across the sandbars.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

During April and May, the swell machine begins to throttle down as the Pacific storm track shifts northward. Average heights drop to around 2.2m in April and 1.8m in May, though the swell still carries solid period (10-12s) and arrives from favorable W-WNW angles. The catch? Offshore wind frequencies fall sharply to 20% then 16%, meaning you'll need to pick your windows carefully as spring breezes often veer onshore (SW-W). September offers a similar transitional feel: swell from distant typhoons and early autumn lows slides in with 1.7m average and 10.6s period, and the wind sets up clean from the E about 28% of the time. These months reward patience - the right day can produce fun, rippable waist-to-head-high waves with glassy conditions.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer is the quietest period along the Oregon coast. From June through August, the Pacific high dominates, flattening the open ocean swell. Averages hover around 1.4-1.6m, and period drops to 9.7-10.2s, yielding weaker, less organized energy. The prevailing wind pattern becomes a major issue: frequent onshore flow from the NW-NNW (see the wind rose) drives strong sea breezes that chop up the small waves. Offshore wind presence plummets to just 9-16%, and when it does blow from the E ground, the swell is often too small to offer more than groveling conditions. That said, occasional NW groundswell can still sneak in with fun-sized surf if you cherry-pick a morning with early offshore flow before the seabreeze ruins it.

April: Fading Power, Increasing Windows

April marks a noticeable step down. Average swell height falls to 2.2m, period to 11.4s. While the swell direction still heavily favors the W and WNW (W 24.0%, WNW 24.8%), the size bins show a distinct shift away from the 2-2.5m and over-2.5m categories compared to winter months. Now the 1.5-2m and 1-1.5m categories take the lead, often making for fun, good chest-to-head-high waves. The trouble is wind: ideal conditions slip to 20%. The wind rose shows a rise in N and NNW winds (N 9.7%, NNW 12.7%), which are cross-shore to slightly onshore at this west-facing spot, plus persistent SW-W flow (SW 8.6%, WSW 6.8%, W 5.5%) that creates lumpy conditions. Still, the duration of the swell is solid enough that with patience you can score clean waves on an easterly breeze.