Spiders seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
This is the prime window for Spiders. The North Atlantic roars to life as strong extratropical storms spin up, sending long-period groundswells barreling toward the Moroccan coast. Average swell heights hover between 2.0m and 2.2m, with periods often exceeding 12 seconds, delivering powerful, heavy waves that wrap beautifully into the WSW-facing beach. Offshore wind consistency is at its peak, with the ideal N to ESE breezes blowing over 50% of the time — often from the east under the influence of a strong Azores High, ironing out the surface to glassy perfection. This is when Spiders truly fires.
Fair Surf Season (April - May)
As spring progresses, the North Atlantic storm track shifts north and weakens, and the Azores High builds northward. Average swell height drops to 1.8m—still fun-sized—but the period shortens to 9-11 seconds, making the waves punchier and less consistent. The dominant swell direction shifts strongly to NNW, reducing the direct exposure angle, so the spot sees more wrap and less power. Offshore wind frequency declines to around 30-36%, and the wind regime becomes more variable, with stronger N to NNW trades often spoiling conditions. It's a shoulder season: good days exist, but they're less frequent.
Low Surf Season (June - September)
Summer brings the doldrums to Spiders. The North Atlantic storm machine all but shuts down, replaced by the persistent Azores High and the steady, cool N to NW trade winds. Swell heights average only 1.5-1.6m, with periods below 9 seconds, resulting in mainly choppy, low waves. The swell direction is overwhelmingly from the NNW, almost directly aligned with the shoreline — very little wrap and a lot of closeouts. Offshore wind frequency improves somewhat in July and August (42-43%), but with such weak, short-period swell, the quality suffers. This is the time for longboard cruises or a travel plan to the Southern Hemisphere.
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Conditions at Spiders in May
May: Losing Momentum
May sees the swell continue to fade. Average height is 1.8m, period drops to 9.4 seconds — average, punchy but less powerful. The directional spread narrows further: a massive 62.9% of the swell comes from NNW, with only 19.3% from NW and a tiny 3.5% from WNW. The beach is essentially receiving north swell that barely wraps. Offshore wind frequency hits its annual low at 31%. The NNW wind (28.8%) is the primary wind, often strong and onshore. The N wind (13.6%) offers some reprieve, but the wave quality is inconsistent. Look for early morning offshore easterlies between pressure gradients — these are your best chances.
Average Spot conditions at Spiders in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Spiders during May. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Spiders for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Spiders for May. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Spiders.
