Sealion Cove • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Pacific storm machine dictates the rhythm at Sealion Cove. From October through March, the Aleutian Low deepens and strong extratropical cyclones roll across the Gulf of Alaska, pushing average swell heights into the 2.5-3.0m (8-10ft) range with periods of 10.4-11.8s. Ideal offshore winds from E/ESE/SE/SSE blow 37-43% of the time in these months, so even in the dead of winter there are frequent windows of clean, lined-up surf. This is the time for big-wave chargers - cold water (5.3-6.6°C), heavy groundswell and raw, powerful conditions are the norm.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

The shoulder months offer a trade-off: wave heights are smaller and less consistent, but the wind is often better. April sees the best offshore wind ratio of the year at 43%, along with a 2.2m (7.2ft) average swell. May is smaller and softer, while September is the first fall wake-up call as average heights climb back to 2.0m (6.6ft). Swell directions during these months are predominantly from SW/WSW, so Sealion Cove often depends on wraparound energy rather than direct west-northwest lines.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer is flat, bumpy and small. Average heights fall to 1.3-1.4m (4.5ft), periods shrink to 9.8-10.2s, and the dominant SW/WSW swells are mostly low energy. Onshore sea breezes from WNW/NW become the prevailing wind, with ideal offshore flow dropping to 32-34%. Although water temps peak at 13-14°C, the surf is generally only fun-sized or smaller - save your energy for the return of the North Pacific in October.