Santa Maria - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic storm track roars to life during these months, generating powerful, long-period groundswell that marches into the Cape Verde archipelago. At Santa Maria, the dominant swell arrives from the NNE to NNW quadrant, with average heights climbing to 1.7-2.0 m and periods stretching to 10-11 s. While the persistent NE trade winds blow cross-shore most of the time, periods of offshore N, NW, or NNW winds – occurring 8-19% of the time – transform the surf into clean, hollow lines. When a strong low-pressure system aligns with a high-pressure ridge, the result is pumping sets with sunny skies and groomed faces. This is the prime window for serious surfers to chase size and power.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transitional months offer a blend of conditions. April sees the tail end of winter swell with average heights around 1.7 m and periods near 10 s, but the wind is dominated by strong NNE trades (62% of the time), keeping ideal offshore frequencies low at 7%. September marks the return of longer-period swell (9 s) as early winter storms begin to form, and a higher incidence of lighter winds pushes ideal wind percentage to 27%. Both months can produce fun, rippable waves, especially when a cold front slips south and delivers a brief window of offshore flow.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer brings a dramatic shift to smaller, weaker windswell. Average heights drop to 1.3-1.6 m and periods shorten to 7.9-8.4 s, with the swell predominantly from the NNE (up to 81% in June). The trade winds lighten and rotate more northerly, boosting ideal offshore wind frequencies to 40-41% in July and August. This creates clean, glassy conditions, but the waves are often small and fun-sized rather than powerful. For longboarders and grovelers, these months offer playful moments, especially when a rare southerly pulse sneaks in. However, serious surfers will find the lack of size and energy limiting.

May: Summer Swoon Begins

May sees a further decline in surf size and quality. Average swell height falls to 1.6 m and period collapses to 8.4 s, indicating a shift toward shorter-period windswell. The swell is almost exclusively NNE (78.7%), with small contributions from N (11.1%). Wind conditions are dominated by NNE trades at 70.2% frequency, and ideal offshore winds drop to a paltry 6%. The waves are often soft, choppy, and less powerful. This is a month for longboards and small-wave gear. Occasionally, a southerly trough can spin up a brief pulse of SSE swell, but these events are rare. May is a low-energy month that requires patience and low expectations.