Spessard Holland - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - March)

The winter months deliver the most consistent and quality surf at Spessard Holland. As the Atlantic storm track shifts southward, a steady procession of extratropical cyclones spins up deep low-pressure systems, firing long-period swell from the optimal NNE through E window. Combined with a higher frequency of offshore winds from the SSW-WSW quadrant, these months offer the best chance of clean, punchy waves in the fun to good size range (0.5-1.5m). November stands out with the highest average swell height (1.0m) and a period often stretching into the 8-9 second range, providing plenty of push.

Fair Surf Season (April, May, September, October)

Transitional months see a decline in both swell size and wind consistency. Spring (April-May) brings a gradual weakening of the North Atlantic storm machine, with average heights dropping to 0.7-0.8m. While occasional cold fronts can still deliver decent ENE to E swell, the percentage of offshore wind drops below 20%, making clean sessions harder to come by. Autumn (September-October) sees a resurgence: September averages 0.8m with a respectable 9.0s period, and October ramps up to 0.9m as the first autumn storms organize. However, the wind remains fickle, with ideal conditions only around 14-16% of the time. Expect mixed bag days with onshore seabreezes often ruining the afternoon session.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

The summer doldrums hit Spessard Holland hard. From June through August, the average swell height plummets to 0.5-0.6m, and periods hover around 7.6-8.1 seconds. The dominant swell direction becomes overwhelmingly east to southeast (E and ESE account for over 60% of swells), which, while in the window, often arrives with weak, windswell-like energy. More critically, the region comes under the influence of persistent high pressure, driving a relentless easterly trade wind flow that is directly onshore for this east-facing beach. Offshore wind percentages drop to 11-14%, making any rideable wave a rare treat. Expect mostly small, groveling conditions unless a tropical system or distant hurricane swell lines up – a low-probability event.

August: Hint of Change?

August shows a modest improvement with average swell height rising to 0.6m and period to 8.1s. Swell directions shift: E (44.9%) still dominates, but ENE increases to 13.3% and NE to 5.7%, suggesting occasional longer-period pulses from distant storms. Ideal wind sits at 14%, still low but hinting at late-season shifts. The wind distribution still features strong onshore components from E and ESE, but the frequency of westerly quadrant winds (W, WSW, SW) increases slightly. This month can produce occasional fun, rideable days when a tropical disturbance or early fall cold front interacts with the local wind pattern. Keep an eye on the tropics – a well-placed hurricane can send punchy, long-period swell despite the onshore breeze.