Tifnit - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

The North Atlantic winter machine hits its stride during these months, delivering a consistent barrage of powerful, long-period groundswells to Tifnit's west-facing shores. With average wave heights hovering around 2 meters and periods pushing well into the 12-13 second range, the playground is primed. The key ingredient is the favorable wind regime: offshore flow from the east and southeast (E, ESE, SE) becomes more frequent as high pressure builds over the continent. This combination of solid NW and NNW swell with clean offshore winds creates the most reliable and high-quality surf of the year. November through February are the months to plan a trip for.

Fair Surf Season (March, April, and October)

As the seasons transition, the surf becomes more of a gamble. March still holds onto winter's swell size but sees the offshore wind window begin to shrink. April brings a noticeable drop in average wave period and a sharp decline in ideal wind days. October, on the other hand, is the shoulder month where the Atlantic begins to reawaken after summer's slumber; early season lows start to spin up, and while the wind consistency isn't yet perfect, the potential for a clean, good-sized day is real. Patience and a flexible schedule are the keys during these months.

Low Surf Season (May - September)

Summer takes a firm grip on the Moroccan coastline from May through September. The trade wind regime kicks in, with strong, persistent northwesterly winds (NW, WNW) blowing directly onshore and ruining the wave quality for much of the time. The swell mix consists almost entirely of short-period, local windswell generated by these same trades, resulting in average wave heights of 1.5 meters or less and periods barely cracking 10 seconds. Ideal offshore wind days are extremely rare – often less than 10% of the time. While there may be occasional small, choppy waves for groveling, this is definitively the off-season for quality surf at Tifnit.

January: Peak of Winter Power

January represents the apex of the winter season at Tifnit. The average swell height sits at a robust 2.1m with a long-period average of 13.2 seconds – the hallmark of powerful, well-traveled groundswells. The directional distribution is heavily loaded toward the NW (37.3%) and NNW (28.3%), which are highly favorable for the west-facing beach. A healthy dose of WNW (9.5%) also adds breadth to the swell window. The wind regime is the saving grace: offshore flow from the E (12.0%), ESE (14.5%), and SE (7.3%) combined is significant, leading to an ideal wind percentage of 46%. Despite occasional strong NW winds (13.7% from that direction), when the synoptic setup aligns with high pressure over the Sahara, Tifnit enjoys clean, lined-up surf with plenty of power. This is prime time.