Osbourne • Statistics for November

November: Deep-Water Power and Winter's Edge

November brings a distinct jump in raw power to the Canadian Atlantic coast, with the average swell height climbing to 5-6ft (1.6m) and the average period holding at 8.3s. The swell rose is led by SSW (13.6 percent), SW (12.1 percent), S (10.4 percent), and SSE (8.3 percent), while the optimal E-ESE-SE-SSE window sits at about 27 percent. More of the energy comes from southwesterly tracks that are less ideal for Osbourne, yet the sheer size and period can still produce solid, heavy waves when the angle bends into the beach. Wind becomes a major player: WNW (11.8 percent), NW (10.7 percent), NNW (11.2 percent), and W (10.0 percent) are the dominant directions, creating a strongly offshore-influenced wind rose. However, the wind is only ideal 23 percent of the time, because when it blows from the W/NW it is often fresh to strong, making the surface lumpy and hard to ride. Water temperature drops to 8.7°C, air averages 6.8°C, and precipitation increases to 4.02 mm/day. November is for the hardy, cold-water surfer who wants size and power before the deep-freeze of midwinter fully locks in.