Cotton Trees seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - November)
Cotton Trees turns on when the West African monsoon begins to loosen its grip and the winds shift back toward the offshore quadrant. While the NAO dominates the narrative for many North Atlantic coasts, this stretch of Liberia is really controlled by the South Atlantic storm track and the seasonal migration of the ITCZ. October still holds a solid 3-4ft (1.1m) of S/SSW swell at 11s, and November sees the highest frequency of ideal offshore flow of the entire year at 47%. The west-facing beach finally gets groomed, rippable waves instead of wind-blown lumps.
Fair Surf Season (May - September)
This is the heart of the South Atlantic storm track season. As the ITCZ shifts north and the Southern Hemisphere winter ramps up, average swell heights climb steadily to 5ft (1.5m) by August, with periods in the high 11s. The catch is the monsoon: SW, WSW and W winds are onshore for a west-facing beach, often pushing 20-30kph and wrecking the surface. May and June offer the most workable balance, with 30% ideal winds and powerful 4ft (1.2-1.3m) swell.
Low Surf Season (December - April)
From December through April, the average wave height drops to 3-3.5ft (0.9-1.1m), periods shorten to 10-12s, and the dominant S/SSW swell often lacks the size and push to overcome the prevailing onshore winds. February and March are especially frustrating, with ideal wind percentages in the single digits. You will find clean, small days, but they require patience and a forgiving board under your arm.