Virac Harbour - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October – March)

The northeast monsoon (Amihan) dominates from October through March, bringing the most consistent swell of the year to Virac Harbour. Average wave heights hover around 1m and periods reach into the 8-second range, but the swell direction is overwhelmingly from the east-northeast – far from the optimal S to WSW window. The prevailing trade winds blow from the same quadrant, creating often bumpy, onshore conditions. However, when strong high-pressure systems settle over mainland Asia, they occasionally push a crisp offshore flow from the N or NW. These windows account for 20–40% of the time during this period, with the best chances in October and November. On those rare synoptic setups, the easterly swell cleans up and produces fun, rippable waves in the 1–1.5m range.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transitional months see shifting monsoon patterns. April is the tail end of the northeast monsoon, with smaller swell (0.7m) and lighter, variable winds. The wind is ideal roughly 16% of the time, often due to weak pressure gradients allowing local land/sea breezes. September marks the dying phase of the southwest monsoon; swell remains small (0.5m) but the frequency of northerly wind components increases as the NE monsoon rebuilds. Occasional long-period groundswell from distant tropical cyclones can sneak in, but the surf remains marginal overall.

Low Surf Season (May – August)

The southwest monsoon (Habagat) takes over from May through August, delivering the year's smallest and weakest waves. Average wave heights bottom out at 0.5m with periods around 7 seconds, and the swell direction shifts to include more southerly components but still mostly from the east. Onshore winds from the S through SW dominate, with ideal offshore wind time plummeting to under 7%. The sea is generally choppy, messy, and too small for most surfcraft. Only the smallest of grovelers might find something during brief wind lulls, but this is the low point of the year for Virac Harbour.

September: Monsoon Transition Begins

September is a transitional month as the southwest monsoon weakens and the northeast monsoon starts to build. Average wave heights remain low at 0.5m, but periods improve to 7.6s, hinting at more organised swell. Swell direction becomes more northeasterly (22.3% NE, 26.6% ENE, 13.7% E), while southerly contributions fade. Wind direction is mixed: SW (21.3%) and WSW (12.7%) still blow onshore, but northwesterly winds (NW 5.1%, NNW 3.8%) become more common. The ideal wind percentage jumps to 15% – a significant improvement. Although waves are still small, the occasional chest-high set from a distant typhoon can be rideable when the wind cooperates.