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.

January: Deep Winter Consistency

January sees the full force of the North Atlantic winter. The average swell height sits at 0.8m with a period of 8.2 seconds, delivering mostly fun-sized waves. Swell direction is dominated by easterly quadrants: E (21.9%), ENE (15.8%), and NE (13.5%) – all prime directions for this east-northeast facing beach. These long-fetch swells are often generated by low pressure systems tracking across the North Atlantic, providing punchy, rideable waves. The wind is favorable 24% of the time, with offshore flow originating from the SSW-WSW sector. When that offshore breeze aligns with a pulse of ENE swell, the waves clean up and offer rippable walls. However, the northern quadrants also bring onshore wind – with N through E winds combining for a significant chunk of the wind distribution – meaning many days are blown out or choppy. Patience is key, but the best days in January deliver consistent, good-quality surf.