Artiglieria seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The Mediterranean may not produce the open-ocean power of the Atlantic, but Artiglieria's west-southwest facing beach is built to catch the best of it. From October through March the average swell height climbs to 2-2.3ft (0.6-0.7m) with average periods of 5.7-6.0s, and the swell rose is heavily loaded in the SSW, SW, WSW and W window. That is the sweet spot. Winter storms in the Gulf of Genoa and the western Mediterranean, often driven by a southward displaced storm track and a negative NAO pattern, push longer-period pulses toward the coast. When a continental high over central Europe lines up with one of these lows, NNO/NO/ONO/O winds blow offshore and Artiglieria cleans right up. Bigger 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) days are rare but possible, and those are the days that live long in the memory.
Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)
Spring and early autumn sit in the middle ground. April and May still receive a good share of WSW/W oriented swell, but the average size drops to 1.3-2ft (0.4-0.6m) and the average period falls to 4.8-5.3s. The storm track retreats northwards and the Azores High starts to control the Mediterranean. In September the transition begins in reverse: first autumn lows inject a few more westerly pulses, water temperatures are still warm at 23.8°C, and occasional clean days appear. Offshore wind frequency is limited to 8-12%, so you need patience and a flexible schedule.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
The summer months are the flat season at Artiglieria. Average swell heights bottom out near 1.3ft (0.4m) with periods as low as 4.3s. Although the swell direction remains from west and southwest, almost all of that energy is local, short-period windswell generated by the afternoon sea breeze. Ideal offshore winds occur only 4% of the time. The Azores High keeps the Mediterranean under summer high pressure, and the usual surf is small, weak and lumpy. Only a rare tropical-mediterranean depression or a late-season low can provide a desperate salvage session. Leave the board in the car and enjoy the beach.