Cox Bay • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

From October through March, the North Pacific becomes a breeding ground for powerful extratropical cyclones. Driven by a strong Aleutian Low, these storms send consistent, long-period W, WSW and SW swell straight into the west-facing confines of Cox Bay. Average wave heights run 7-9ft (2.1-2.7m) in the peak months, with 12-12.5s periods that produce heavy, grinding waves. Offshore winds out of the NE, ENE, E and ESE quadrant are most common behind cold fronts and under building continental highs, making the percentage of clean surf windows the highest of the year. Yes, the weather is wet and cold, but when the wind swings offshore and the swell lights up, this is a true Pacific Northwest charging ground.

Fair Surf Season (April - May, September)

As the jet stream lifts north in spring, average surf size slowly fades from 6ft (1.8m) in April to 5ft (1.5m) in May, while September marks the return of early-season storms. Swell periods remain healthy around 11-12s, and there are still plenty of rideable W/WSW swells. The issue is wind: onshore WNW flow becomes more frequent, and the percentage of ideal offshore wind drops into the 20-30% range. These months are all about picking the right mornings - typically as a front clears and E flow takes over - before the afternoon seabreeze chops the surface.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer at Cox Bay is defined by a strong North Pacific High, a weak storm track and smaller, less consistent swells. Average height drops to about 4ft (1.2m), and although the swell direction remains dominated by W, WSW and SW, the energy is often too small to generate real power. Onshore/cross-onshore WNW winds are the star of the show in June, July and August, producing clean conditions only 14-19% of the time. The compensation is the warmest air of the year, water temperatures around 14°C (57°F), and the occasional fun, groveling summer wave for those willing to work for it.