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.

June: Summer Doldrums

June continues the summer slump. Average swell height is 1.5m with a period of 8.6s – firmly in the short-period, choppy category. The swell direction is overwhelmingly NNW at a staggering 80%, with NW at 14.6%. Only a tiny sliver of swell comes from the west or WNW. Offshore wind conditions are virtually nonexistent at just 2% ideal. The wind regime is locked into a strong onshore pattern: WNW leads at 35.4%, followed by NW at 27.1% and W at 18.7%. These winds create bumpy, windswell conditions that rarely produce a clean face. The wave period is too short to hold shape, and heights are mostly in the 0.5–1.5m range – small and fun-sized at best, but often just mushy and disorganized. For the average surfer, June is a month to avoid Sidi R'bat unless you're a beginner looking for gentle, rolly waves on a foamie. The summer thermal low that sets up over the Iberian Peninsula reinforces the onshore flow, leaving little hope for glassy sessions.