Tonel - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months, delivering consistent, powerful swell to Tonel. Average wave heights range from 1.8m to 2.4m with periods often exceeding 12 seconds, bringing long-period, heavy surf. Ideal offshore wind conditions—typically from the northeast through southeast—occur 20-28% of the time, offering frequent windows of clean, glassy waves. The combination of strong extratropical cyclones and favorable pressure gradients makes this the prime window for serious surf.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transition months see a noticeable drop in average swell size (1.5-1.9m) and period (10-11s), but still provide a decent number of rideable days. Ideal wind frequencies hover around 17-20%, and while cold fronts are less frequent, occasional NW swells can still produce solid, clean surf when the wind aligns from the eastern quadrants.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer settles in with persistent small, short-period swell averaging 1.4-1.6m and periods dropping to 8-10s. Ideal wind percentages fall below 13%, and the dominant NW-NNW swell directions are often accompanied by onshore winds that chop up the waves. This is the time for groveling gear and waiting for rare upswings in swell energy. Still, early mornings with light east winds can yield fun, clean waves.

January: The Peak of Winter Power

January sits at the heart of the North Atlantic storm track. Average swell height hits 2.4m with a long period of 13.1s, ensuring powerful, organized lines. Swell direction is dominated by NW (27.5%) and WNW (16.9%), both of which align well with Tonel's west-facing orientation. Ideal wind conditions—from the north through southeast—occur 28% of the time, often associated with high pressure building to the southwest, shutting down the westerly winds. When the wind goes light easterly, the waves groom into clean, hollow walls.