Xivares - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic swings into action as autumn deepens, and Xivares reaps the rewards. From October through March, the average swell height sits comfortably between 1.3m and 1.7m, with wave periods regularly exceeding 11 seconds—often hitting the long-period 12-14s range. This is prime time for groundswell from the NW and NNW quadrants, which wrap directly into this north-facing beach. Critically, the percentage of offshore wind (from S, SSW, SW) peaks during these months, with December leading at 61% ideal conditions. Low-pressure systems tracking across the Atlantic send consistent, powerful swell, while high-pressure setups over the Iberian Peninsula often deliver light southerly breezes—the recipe for clean, rippable waves.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September serve as transitional windows. Average swell heights drop to 1.1-1.3m, and periods shorten to 10-11 seconds, but quality surf is still on the table. The dominant swell angles remain NW and NNW, though the energy is less consistent. Wind patterns become more variable, with ideal offshore conditions occurring roughly 31-33% of the time. April can see late-season winter swells mixed with spring weather, while September benefits from the first stirrings of autumn storms. Conditions are more hit-or-miss, but when the right combination of a solid NW groundswell and a southerly wind aligns, Xivares delivers fun, hollow waves.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer at Xivares is a mellow affair. From May through August, average swell heights hover around 0.8-1.0m, with wave periods dipping into the 8.7-9.8s range—often short-period, weak windswell. The dominant swell direction remains NW and NNW, but the energy is markedly lower, with most waves in the 0.5-1.0m category. Worse still, the percentage of offshore wind plummets to just 15-26%, as the prevailing wind turns onshore from the north and northeast, ruining wave quality. During these months, surfers face small, choppy conditions with occasional grovelers. The best chances come from brief southerly wind shifts or isolated long-period pulses from distant storms, but expect mostly small, fun-sized days at best.

February: Sustained Swell

February continues the winter momentum with an average swell height of 1.7m and a period of 12.6s. The dominant swell direction is again NW (38.3%), followed by NNW (20.2%) and WNW (16.8%). These long-period pulses often result in powerful, walled-up waves that peel along the beach. Ideal wind conditions occur 50% of the time, with S (9.3%), WSW (9.4%), and W (9.7%) winds providing offshore or cross-offshore flow, though W wind is more cross-shore. The onshore quadrants—N (2.2%), NNE (2.7%), NE (4.6%)—are less frequent but can degrade conditions when present. February is a reliable month for surfers seeking consistent, head-high to overhead waves during favorable windows.