Cap Sim seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The North Atlantic roars back to life in October as the Azores High begins to retreat and extratropical storms track farther south. At Cap Sim, the west-southwest-facing coastline starts to receive the first consistent long-period groundswells of the season, with average heights climbing from 6ft (1.8m) in October to 7.2-7.5ft (2.2-2.3m) by midwinter and periods holding in the 11.6-13.2-second range. Northeast to eastern winds (NNE/NE/ENE/E) blow offshore and keep the surface clean 48-53 percent of the time. This is the reliable window: when strong North Atlantic lows align, the window of W/SW swell is at its most active and Cap Sim turns on.
Fair Surf Season (April - May and September)
Spring and early autumn are transitional. April and May still see a solid 5.6-6.6ft (1.7-2.0m) of swell, but the period drops to 9.4-10.8s as energy becomes more locally generated. Ideal wind days fall to 30-31 percent as the trade winds strengthen and occasional southwesterly wind events disrupt the surface. September is the more promising shoulder month: the water is at its warmest and the period jumps back to 10.1s, setting the stage for October.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
Summer in the North Atlantic is quiet. The storm track retreats far to the north, leaving Cap Sim with a nearly identical NNW/NW windswell signal, average heights around 5.2ft (1.6m) and periods between 7.6 and 8.4 seconds. Although the northeast trade wind remains offshore, it blows hard and often; ideal surf windows shrink to 23-30 percent. Expect punchy, trade-wind-driven surf rather than the powerful, grinding groundswell of winter.