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.

March: Transitional Energy

March maintains solid winter swell with average height 2.2m and period 12.3s. NW (27.6%) and WNW (17.4%) swells still dominate, but the first signs of spring appear as wind patterns become more variable. Ideal wind percentages slip to 20%, often coming from NE to SE as high pressure settles over Europe. These crisp offshore winds can sculpt the NW swell into perfectly lined-up waves. The days are getting longer, offering more solar warmth between sessions.