Scarborough • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (April - September)

Scarborough's most reliable period is autumn through the heart of winter. As the Southern Ocean storm track ramps up and low-pressure systems march through the Roaring Forties, the fetch aligns squarely on this exposed WSW-facing Western Australian coastline. Average swell heights climb from 2.0m (6-7ft) in April to a solid 2.7m (9ft) in July and August, while wave periods hold in the powerful 12.7-13.1s range. Crucially, the prevailing wind regime becomes more variable and more frequently offshore from the NE through ESE quarter, pushing the ideal wind window to 35-45% from April through July. This is the time for big, lined-up, heavily corduroy days.

Fair Surf Season (March & October - November)

The shoulder months offer a trade-off: plenty of Southern Ocean groundswell remains, but the subtropical ridge begins to strengthen and sea breezes creep back into the afternoons. March has a teasing 1.8m (6ft) average with 12.4s swell, while October and November maintain 2.0-2.2m (6-7ft) of SW groundswell yet see ideal wind percentages drop into the 21-25% range. When a high-pressure system parks offshore, those NE/ENE/E winds can produce clean, lined-up walls. When it does not, the SSW to SW sea breeze quickly chops up the surface.

Low Surf Season (December - February)

Summer is the quietest stretch at Scarborough. The Southern Ocean storm track weakens and shifts poleward, average wave heights fall to 1.8-1.9m (6ft) and periods shorten to 11.6-11.8s. The onshore SSW/SW sea breeze becomes the dominant wind signal, often ruining the afternoon banks. Still, not all is lost: early each morning the land breeze can deliver offshore E/ESE flow, and the long-period SW groundswell in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) range can mix with warm 21-22°C water to create clean, fun-sized peaks before the seabreeze kicks in.