Varazze - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - March)

As the Mediterranean swings into its most active mode, Varazze comes alive. The Gulf of Genoa becomes a breeding ground for low-pressure systems, generating solid southerly swell that pushes directly into the Ligurian coast. Combined with frequent bursts of offshore Mistral wind from the N and NNW, this season offers the most consistent waves. Swell heights average 0.8-0.9m, with occasional pulses pushing into the 1.5-2m range, and periods can stretch beyond 10s during stronger storms. The wind is favorable 22-27% of the time, making it the prime window for clean, punchy surf at Varazze.

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

During the transition months, the surf is more hit-or-miss. April and October see average swell heights of 0.7m and ideal wind 16-19% of the time, offering decent opportunities when the synoptic setup aligns. Spring can see weakening storm tracks while autumn begins to ramp up. May and September average only 0.5m, with lighter and less frequent offshore winds. Still, a strong low-pressure system in the Tyrrhenian Sea or a clean northerly outflow can produce fun, rippable waves above the baseline.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer in the Mediterranean is dominated by the Azores High extension, bringing stable weather, light onshore sea breezes from the S and SW, and a lack of swell-generating storms. Average swell heights drop to a meager 0.4m, periods under 5s, and ideal wind plummets to just 8-10%. The beach at Varazze is flat and often choppy — great for tanning, but not for surfing. Occasional weak pulses of windswell from thunderstorms may appear, but reliable waves are scarce.

January: The Mistral's Prime

January is a standout month for Varazze, with the Gulf of Genoa churning out frequent low-pressure systems. The average swell height reaches 0.9m with a period of 5.5s, but the real story is the dominant SSW and SW swells (43% combined) that directly hit the SSE-facing beach. Meanwhile, the wind blows offshore from the NNW a staggering 43% of the time, with additional N winds adding to the favorable conditions (total ideal 23%). This classic Mistral setup cleans up the southerly groundswell into clean, peeling lines. Though some days bring onshore S and SE winds (around 16%), the odds of scoring good waves are high. When a deeper low aligns, we can see pumping 1-1.5m surf with long-period energy—definitely a month to circle on the calendar.