Point Leo • Statistics for October

October: Shoulder Season Swing

October is a classic transition month. Average swell height drops slightly to 1.6m (5.2ft), and the period shortens to 12.3s, though it remains long enough for quality groundswell. Swell direction is back to a SW dominance, with SW at 53.0%, WSW at 15.5%, and SSW at 11.1%. The wave height distribution still contains plenty of 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) and 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) waves from the winter swells still roiling the Southern Ocean. However, wind becomes more fickle. Ideal offshore winds drop to 18%, and the wind rose shows a more even split between westerly and onshore directions: WSW (11.0%), SW (10.7%), SSE (8.6%), W (8.6%), and NNW (9.0%). The seabreeze is starting to return, so the cleanest conditions are increasingly found in the early morning. Water temp is 14.5°C, air temp averages 13.6°C, and precipitation is moderate at 2.16 mm/day. October is still a productive month for surf, but you have to time the wind windows carefully to avoid the afternoon bump.