Teahupoo - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The South Pacific stirs to life during the austral spring and summer, delivering a consistent diet of long-period groundswells from the south and southwest. With the trade wind belt shifting northward, Teahupoo sees a higher frequency of offshore flows from the north through east-northeast—perfect for grooming the iconic left. Average swell heights hover around 1.8-2.1m, with periods often exceeding 12 seconds, producing powerful, barreling waves. This window, from October through March, combines the most reliable swell with the best chance of clean conditions.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

As autumn sets in, the swell machine remains active but the trade winds begin to strengthen, reducing the percentage of clean, offshore days. April still offers excellent swell size and direction, with average heights near 2.1m and periods near 12.7s, but the easterly trades pick up, making for more wind-affected surf. May and September see a further drop in ideal wind frequency (30% and 24% respectively), yet the swell remains solid. These months are a gamble, but when the wind aligns, the waves can be world-class.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Winter in the Southern Hemisphere means the South Pacific storm tracks are at their peak, generating the largest average swell heights—up to 2.3m. However, this is also when the southeast trade winds are strongest and most persistent, blowing directly onshore at Teahupoo. Ideal offshore wind frequencies plummet to just 22-24%, leaving many days with bumpy, blown-out conditions. While the swell is massive and powerful, the window for clean surf is narrow. Only the most patient surfers willing to wait for brief lulls or north wind events will find the silver lining.

September: Spring Transition

September is the transitional month, with the average swell still sizable at 2.2m and period at 11.9 seconds. The dominant swell direction shifts slightly, with SSE and SE taking a larger share, but S and SSW remain important. The trade winds start to ease, with ideal offshore wind frequency rising to 24%. The window for clean waves begins to widen, especially in the latter half of the month as the trade wind belt weakens. Early season low-pressure systems can also bring northerly wind shifts. September is a month of increasing potential, where the quality of the surf can range from blown-out to absolutely firing depending on the synoptic setup.