Tombstones - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (June - August)

The winter solstice brings a marked shift in the synoptic pattern across the Southern Ocean. The dominant storm track shifts northward, firing up the Tasman Sea and the Great Australian Bight. This is when Tombstones sees its largest and longest-period swell, averaging 1.5-1.6m with periods pushing 14 seconds. Offshore winds from the south and southwest quadrant blow consistently, keeping the surface glassy. Though the vast majority of the swell arrives from the SSW and SW – not the ideal N to NW window – the long period allows some wrap, especially around the outer reef. The combination of solid size, clean wind, and occasional NW swell makes this the most reliable window for quality waves.

Fair Surf Season (April - May, September - October)

The shoulder months offer a compromise. April and May see the wind ideal percentage climbing to 29-37%, but the average swell height holds steady at 1.3m as the seasons transition. Similarly, September and October still pack a punch with 1.6m average swell and periods above 13s, but the wind consistency drops to 18-12% as the high-pressure belt shift northward. These months can dish out classic surfline days when a proper NW storm track lines up with light S/SSW landbreezes. More often though, you’ll find a lumpy south swell with onshore sea-breeze during the afternoon.

Low Surf Season (November - March)

Summer in the Southern Hemisphere means the storm track is weak and pushed far south. The average swell height sits at just 1.3-1.4m, and the wave period drops to 11-12s, resulting in a lot of windswell that lacks power. The dominant direction remains SSW/SW, which is the wrong angle for Tombstones – most of this energy bypasses the spot or arrives as weak, wrapping lines. The wind is the real sore spot: the ideal S/SSW offshore wind occurs less than 13% of the time, replaced by afternoon sea-breezes from the north and northwest that ruin the surface. Only the rare late-afternoon land breeze or a fading tropical low delivering a NW quadrant swell can salvage a session.

October: Fading Power, Windy Conditions

October sees the average swell height still at 1.6m but period drops to 13.0s. The SW swell is 57.0% and SSW is 37.4%. The wind ideal percentage is only 12%, one of the lowest of the year. The dominant wind is from the S (33.0%) and SSW (28.9%) – these are offshore, but they are often strong (20-40kph) and combined with a lumpy residual swell. The afternoon sea breeze from the north and northwest picks up strongly, ruining many sessions. The only hope is dawn patrol with light S winds and a fading SW swell. The swell direction remains sub-optimal, so it’s a month for the die-hards.