Florence seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
Along the central Oregon coast, the surf year at Florence is defined by the battle between the North Pacific storm track and the summer marine layer. From October through March, the Aleutian Low ramps up and sends a relentless train of extratropical cyclones across the Pacific, lighting up the west-facing beach with powerful, long-period WNW and W groundswell. These are the months when average swell heights climb into the 8-10ft (2.4-3.0m) range with periods of 12-13s, and the percentage of ideal surf wind reaches its annual maximum near 40%. Despite the cold and wet conditions, this is the time to chase Florence at its best.
Fair Surf Season (April, May & September)
April, May, and September are transition months. Swell energy remains rideable but becomes more inconsistent, average heights drop to 6-7ft (1.8-2.1m), and periods trend downward. The Pacific high begins to strengthen in late spring, setting up summertime NNW winds and reducing clean days. September sees the first autumn storms and a noticeable jump in period, making it the pick of the shoulder season.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
June through August is the seasonal lull. The North Pacific storm track retreats, average swell heights fall to around 5ft (1.5m), and the dominant swell becomes shorter-period NW/NNW windswell. At the same time, the thermal trough sets in and strong NNW winds blow 50-60% of the time, shredding the surface and limiting quality sessions. Expect small, onshore summer surf unless the rare south swell sneaks in.