Oakura Beach • Statistics for October

October: Swells of Opportunity, Winds of Change

October is the classic 'if you know, you know' month on the Taranaki coast. The average swell height is still a solid 2.1m (7ft), period is a long 11.9s, and the optimal N-NW sector accounts for around 13.3 percent of the wave energy. WSW remains the primary swell direction at 38.1 percent, but W kicks in with 15.4 percent and WNW follows at 6.9 percent, so there's no shortage of westerly groundswell pushing into the Tasman Sea. The standout days usually involve a strengthening high-pressure ridge moving in behind a front, which swings winds offshore and leaves behind clean, long-period WNW lines.

The catch is wind quality. Ideal conditions drop to just 16 percent, with onshore NNW and NW winds combining for over 17 percent of the time, and strong WSW winds often accompanying new swell pulses. Rainfall becomes a little more manageable at 3.96 mm/day, air temps rise to 13.2°C, and water temp starts to climb from the winter low at 14.5°C. If you're willing to work around the fickle spring breeze, there are world-class sessions to be had.