Sopelana - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months, with powerful extratropical storms churning up long-period swell that pounds the Basque coast. Average wave heights hover between 1.5m and 2.1m, with periods often exceeding 12s – producing pumping, firing conditions at this NW-facing beach. The dominant swell directions (NW, WNW, NNW) align perfectly with Sopelana's exposure, while the frequency of offshore winds (S, SSW, SW, WSW) peaks around 30-38% of the time, especially in October. This is prime time for clean, powerful surf – the kind that draws the region's most committed crew.

Fair Surf Season (April, May, September)

As the jet stream relaxes, swells become more inconsistent and average height drops to 1.2-1.4m with periods around 10-11s. While the Azores High begins to dominate, occasional cold fronts still bring pulses of WNW-NW swell that can offer fun, rippable waves on a good day. April and May see a mix of small to fun-sized surf, often with lighter winds – though offshore breezes are less frequent (<28-35%). September is a transition month where the first autumn lows begin to stir, making it a sneaky good period for clean, punchy waves before winter sets in.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer settles in and the swell machine shuts down. Average wave heights drop to just 1.0m with periods around 8.8-9.2s, resulting in small, groveling surf at best. The dominant swell remains from the NW quadrant, but waves rarely exceed 1.5m. Offshore wind percentages hover around 27-29%, but the main culprit is the lack of consistent swell energy. This is the season for longboard cruises and foil sessions – not the time to expect pumping waves. When a rogue NW groundswell sneaks in, the conditions can improve temporarily, but it's the quietest period of the year.

November: Full-On Attack

November continues the winter pattern with average height 1.8m and period 11.8s – powerful. Swell is dominated by NW (34.8%), WNW (21.4%), and NNW (11.1%). Waves in the 1.5-2.5m range are abundant, and XL sets appear. Offshore wind frequency is 30%, with strong S (10.8%) and SSW (11.2%) contributions. However, the storm track is active, bringing more frequent onshore flow from W and WNW (totaling ~21.5%). This means winter swells come with a price – wind can be tricky. But when a high-pressure ridge sets up, you'll score heavy, powerful surf with clean conditions. November offers some of the most charging, XL days of the year.