Point Dume • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (December - April)

The heart of the surf year at Point Dume runs from December through April. This is when the Aleutian Low strengthens across the North Pacific and points the storm track at California, generating the west and west-northwest swells that wrap into the southeast-facing beach. Average swell heights hold around 1.0-1.2m (3-4ft) and periods remain in the 12-second range, so most of the surf is powerful and well-organized rather than huge. Offshore wind windows from the N/NW/NNW are also at their most reliable, especially from December through February when ideal conditions run 63-70 percent. The water is cold at 13-14°C (55-57°F) and rain can be heavy during frontal passages, but the trade-off is the best combination of shape, consistency, and long-period punch of the year.

Fair Surf Season (May, October - November)

Shoulder months offer a more mixed bag. May still sees average heights around 1.1m (3.5ft) and a bigger southwesterly component, but the wind becomes flukier as summer sea breezes develop, dropping ideal conditions to just 46 percent. On the other side, October and November are the transition back into winter: the swell is still small in the averages, but longer periods and increasingly reliable offshore winds make for clean, fun sessions, especially on days with WNW/NW energy. These months are all about timing, so get the morning glass or the right groundswell and you can score.

Low Surf Season (June - September)

Summer is the quietest stretch at Point Dume. Average swell heights drop to 0.9m (3ft), and while the dominant SSW/SW/WSW directions are exactly what the beach wants, the pulses are generally small and inconsistent. The North Pacific storm track shuts down, leaving southern-hemisphere swells as the main source. At the same time, the North Pacific High drives a persistent afternoon WSW/W sea breeze, making the surface lumpy on many days. Water temperatures peak at 17-17.5°C (63°F) and rain is almost nonexistent, so it is a great time for small-wave cruising and longboarding, but not for serious hollow conditions.