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.

July: The Calmest of the Calm

July is the absolute low point for surf at Sidi R'bat. Swell height averages 1.5m, and period drops to 8.1s – the lowest of the year. Incredibly, NNW swell accounts for 96.1% of all wave energy, with NW contributing just 1.6%. All other swell directions are effectively zero. This means the waves are almost entirely local windswell from the north. Ideal offshore wind is a paltry 2% – essentially a statistical rounding. The wind distribution shows WNW at 39%, NW at 20.9%, and W at 21.6%, a relentless onshore machine. Surf quality is at rock bottom: small, weak, and choppy with very little shape. The only redeeming quality is warm water and sunshine, but for wave riding, it's a write-off. Occasional distant tropical storms in the Atlantic can send long-period pulses, but they are rare and often arrive with strong southerly winds. July is best spent traveling to spots with reliable trade-wind setups or simply enjoying the Moroccan beach culture without a board in hand.