Haast Beach • Statistics for October

October: Spring Storm Energy and Fresh Southwest Winds

October is the springtime inverse of April: plenty of swell, but a lower percentage of clean wind. Average height is 4.5ft (1.4m), period holds at 11.2s, and ideal wind sits at just 26%. Swell directions remain excellent for a NW-facing beach - W at 38%, WNW at 22%, NW/NNW combined at 24% - and the size distribution is full of 3-5ft (1-1.5m) waves with a good share of 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) and 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) sets. The problem is the changing spring wind regime: WSW still leads at 20%, but NE and ENE winds strengthen (10.5% and 8.5%), and the N/NW flow starts to eat into the clean-session count. Still, a strong front passing to the south swings winds into the SW/SSW/S offshore quadrant and switches the beach on. Water temp is cool but slowly climbing at 12.6°C, air temp averages 9.0°C, and it's the wettest month at 7.13 mm/day. This is a month for the sharp-eyed surfer who can read the pressure maps.