San Pedrito - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The heart of the surf season at San Pedrito unfolds from October through March. During these months, the North Pacific storms send consistent, long-period groundswells that pulse into the coast. Average swell heights hover around 1.4-1.5m with periods frequently in the 13-14 second range, delivering powerful, solid waves. More importantly, the wind machine aligns favorably – offshore flow from the N, NNE, NE, and ENE quadrants dominates 57-70% of the time, grooming the faces into pristine, hollow lines. While the predominant swell direction during this period is from the W to WNW – not the ideal S-SW window – the combination of strong offshore winds and long-period energy often wraps into the southwest-facing beach, creating peaky, rippable waves. December and January are the standout months, offering the highest odds of clean, firing conditions.

Fair Surf Season (April - May)

As spring arrives, the swell window begins to shift. April and May still receive a healthy dose of long-period swell (13.8s average), with wave heights maintaining a solid 1.5m. The biggest change is the gradual rotation of the dominant swell direction from W-WNW toward more favorable SW-WSW angles – by May, over 70% of the swell comes from S, SSW, SW, and WSW, which hit San Pedrito dead-on. However, the offshore wind reliability slips to around 56%. This means you’ll still score clean waves, but the consistency of perfect conditions decreases. The early mornings and evenings often deliver the best combo of light offshore breezes and good swell direction, making April and May a decent backup season for surfers willing to be patient.

Low Surf Season (June - September)

Summer at San Pedrito is a mixed bag for wave quality. The swell direction is at its most favorable – over 85% of the waves come from the optimal S, SSW, SW, and WSW quadrants, providing a direct, unbroken line of swell into the beach. Wave heights remain steady around 1.4-1.5m and periods stay in the long-range 13-14s category, so there’s no shortage of swell energy. The critical issue is the wind. From June through September, the percentage of ideal offshore wind drops to just 45-48%. Instead, onshore and side-on winds from the S and SW quadrants dominate, especially during the afternoon sea breeze cycle. This combination ruins the wave quality, leading to choppy, blown-out conditions. While there are occasional windows of clean surf – usually early in the morning when land breezes prevail – the overall consistency is poor. This is the low season for serious surf sessions.

January: Winter Peak Power

January delivers the highest ideal wind percentage of any month at 68%, with strong offshore flow from the N, NNE, and NNW quadrants. The average swell height is 1.4m with a long 13.9s period. Swell direction is dominated by W (31.9%) and WNW (50.4%), meaning the bulk of the energy arrives from a less-than-ideal angle. However, the long period allows these west swells to bend and refract into the southwest-facing beach, producing hollow, powerful waves when paired with the clean offshore winds. Wave heights often fall in the 1-2m range (over 75% from W and WNW combined in that range), providing plenty of punch. The S and SSW directions contribute only a tiny fraction, so don't expect direct south swell. Score dawn patrol to catch the lightest winds and most groomed faces.