Tadado - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - December)

As autumn deepens into winter, the North Pacific begins to churn with the first powerful extratropical storms of the season. The Japanese archipelago becomes a magnet for long-period groundswells, and even though Tadado faces south, the dominant swell direction during these months is from the west and northwest, a product of the strong pressure gradients over the Sea of Japan. That said, a notable percentage of swell also arrives from the optimal S to SW quadrant. October and November see a sharp increase in both average wave height (1.6m) and period (8-9s), coinciding with the highest frequency of offshore winds (N, NNE, NE) at around 27-30%. This combination makes for the most consistent and powerful surf of the year. While pure south swells are less common than in summer, the winter months deliver the most energy and the cleanest conditions when the wind aligns. December, January, and February continue this trend with average heights peaking at 1.8m, though the wind can be more variable. The key is to target high-pressure systems moving over the mainland, sending cool northerly winds straight down the coast. This is the prime window for epic, pumping surf at Tadado.

Fair Surf Season (March - May & September)

The transition months offer a mixed bag. March sees a gradual shift from winter's west-heavy swells to more east and southeast energy. The average wave height drops slightly to 1.7m, and the percentage of offshore wind falls to 23%. However, the swell begins to rotate more into the south quadrant as spring progresses, particularly in April and May when the percentage of S, SSW, and SW swell rises to over 24% and 30% respectively. This is great for direction, but the trade-off is smaller average heights (1.5m in Apr, 1.3m in May) and a higher incidence of onshore WSW winds. September marks the tail end of typhoon season in the Pacific, often delivering long-period southeast to south swells that can light up Tadado. The average wave height is 1.6m and period 8.7s, with offshore winds 24% of the time. These shoulder months require a keen eye on synoptic charts – when a low-pressure system stalls offshore or a late-season typhoon tracks east, the surf can turn on dramatically.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer is the most challenging period for consistent surf at Tadado. The average wave height hovers around 1.3-1.4m, with periods in the 7.5-8.0s range, meaning smaller, weaker swell. The silver lining is that the majority of the swell comes from the optimal directions – the S, SSW, and SW quadrants account for over 40-50% of the total. However, the dominant wind pattern shifts to a persistent onshore flow from the WSW and SW, driven by the Pacific High and thermal lows over the continent. Offshore wind conditions occur only 19-24% of the time, typically in the early mornings when land-breezes kick in. The result is a summer that is often small and bumpy, with only occasional clean, fun-sized waves when a tropical depression tracks close enough to the coast. It's not a total write-off, but expectations should be tempered – think micro-sessions on a longboard rather than charging overhead peaks.

August: Typhoon Watch – Long Periods Possible with Patience

August sees the average swell height rise slightly to 1.4m, and the average period lengthens to 9.0s, the highest of the year. This is due to the increased influence of distant typhoons and tropical depressions in the Pacific. Swell directions are predominantly from the SE, SSE, S, and SSW – all of which are favorable for Tadado. However, the wind remains stubbornly onshore, with WSW winds blowing 25% of the time and offshore NE winds at just 10.5%. The ideal wind percentage is only 20%. The key to scoring in August is tracking typhoons. When a system tracks north-east of Taiwan, it sends long-period groundswell that can arrive early in the morning with better wind. These events can produce clean, 1.5-2m surf with excellent period (10-12s). Outside of those windows, expect small, choppy waves. August is a month for the patient forecaster who hunts typhoon swells.