Sidi R'bat - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October – March)

The North Atlantic engine fires up in October, and Sidi R'bat feels the full force of the winter swell window. Average wave heights hover around 1.7–2.1m with long-period energy (11–13s) from the NW and WNW – the sweet spot for this west-northwest-facing beach. The percentage of ideal offshore wind (from the E through SSE quadrants) is at its annual peak during these months, reaching 51% in December. However, it's not a guaranteed glass-off every day; strong low-pressure systems often drag onshore NW winds across the lineup, especially following a cold front. When the synoptic setup aligns – a deep Atlantic low spinning far to the northwest, a ridge of high pressure building over the Iberian Peninsula, and light easterly flow filtering down the Moroccan coast – Sidi R'bat delivers pumping, long-period groundswell with clean, offshore conditions. That's when the waves here are truly firing.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transitional months offer a mixed bag. April sees average swell heights drop to 1.9m and periods shorten to 10.9s, while the wind is only ideal 11% of the time. The dominant swell shifts more NNW, which still wraps in nicely, but the wind becomes a constant battle – the onshore NW-WNW breeze kicks in hard, making conditions choppy unless a rare easterly surge aligns. September marks the slow uptick in swell energy after the summer lull, with average heights of 1.4m and periods of 10.1s. While the number of storm-generated swells increases, the wind remains largely onshore (ideal just 7% of the time). Occasional early-season cold fronts can deliver a clean pulse of WNW swell with light offshore winds, offering short but quality windows. These months require patience and a weather-watching mindset.

Low Surf Season (May – August)

Summer at Sidi R'bat is a frustrating time for surfers seeking quality. The North Atlantic storm track retreats north, leaving the spot dominated by weak, short-period NNW swell generated by the persistent trade winds. Average wave heights drop to 1.4–1.7m, and period values sink below 9s – often in the choppy, weak range. To make matters worse, the onshore regime of NW-WNW winds locks in from late morning through the day, with ideal offshore wind occurring a mere 2–5% of the time. The result is often bumpy, disorganized waves that are better suited for longboards or a day off. The few surfable moments come on early summer mornings before the wind picks up, or during rare pulses of longer-period background swell from a distant hurricane. But for most surfers, this is the season to travel or explore other spots with more reliable summer trade-wind setups.

August: Hint of Return

August remains in the low season, but there are subtle signs of life compared to July. Swell height stays at 1.4m, but period ticks up to 8.4s – still short but a slight improvement. The swell direction remains overwhelmingly NNW at 94.9%, with NW at 3.9% and a tiny trace of WNW. Offshore wind is still abysmal at 3% ideal. The onshore pattern continues: WNW at 38.5%, NW at 19.8%, and W at 20.8%. Days with clean conditions are extremely rare, but the occasional tropical storm or early-season cold front can produce a pulse of longer-period swell (10s+) that may align with a brief easterly wind event. Morale-wise, August is similar to July, but the slow increase in swell period and the slight uptick in offshore wind percentage (though still tiny) hint at the coming transition. For the dedicated surfer, this is a month to watch the long-range forecasts for any anomaly. The majority of days, however, will feature small, weak, and choppy surf best suited for a longboard or a rest on the beach.