San Juan - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May & September - October)

During these months, the percentage of offshore or light wind conditions peaks, offering the cleanest surfaces despite the small easterly swell. The average wave height hovers around 0.7-0.8m with periods of 5.9-6.1s, making for fun, groveling conditions on log-style equipment. Although the swell direction remains unfavorably from the east, the lighter winds allow for a decent rideable wave, especially at mid-tide.

Fair Surf Season (November - April)

Winter and early spring bring slightly larger average swell heights (0.8-0.9m) thanks to distant North Atlantic storms, but the dominant easterly wind regime often kicks up onshore chop. Only about 20-25% of the time do we get favorable winds, making it a gamble. The infrequent cold front passage can deliver a brief window of north-northwest swell and southerly offshore winds, but those days are rare and require careful timing.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer sees the strongest easterly trade winds, blowing directly onshore and creating bumpy, messy conditions. Swell remains small (0.8-0.9m) and dominated by short-period easterly energy. With ideal wind percentages dropping to 18-22% in July and August, this is the slowest period for quality surf. June offers a slight uptick in favorable wind, but overall it's a time for small waves and wind protection strategies.

March: The Lull Before Spring

March sees a slight drop in average swell height to 0.8m and period to 6.1s. The swell is still overwhelmingly from the east: E (38.7%) and ESE (44.6%). There is a faint increase in ENE swell (9.7%) but still no significant north component. Wave heights are almost entirely below 1.5m, with 64% in the 0.5-1m range. Wind remains predominantly from the east and northeast, with E (32.2%) and ESE (21%) dominating. Ideal wind percentage improves slightly to 25%, but the S/SSW/SW quadrants still account for less than 2% of observations. March is a transitional month with a modest increase in light wind days, but the surf quality remains poor due to persistent onshore flow and lack of optimal swell.