Manzanillo • Statistics for October

October: Peak South Swell, Light Winds

October rivals September for the best surf of the year. SW swell is dominant at 42.6 percent, SSW adds 29.4 percent, and WSW contributes 7.0 percent -- again, nearly 80 percent of wave energy comes from the optimum direction. Periods remain long at 12.7 seconds, and the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) category is packed full, with 30.7 percent from SW and 20.8 percent from SSW. There are also small but meaningful doses of 1.5-2m (5-7ft) and even a trace of overhead-plus energy from WSW and SW. Wind remains exceptional for the tropics: ideal offshore wind at 33 percent, ENE winds down to 44.2 percent, and enough SW/W wind to keep things variable but generally light. The increased presence of WSW swell often comes from Eastern Pacific tropical cyclones, adding an extra and sometimes more powerful dimension. Rainfall peaks at 7.99 mm/day, air temps are 27.4°C and water temp is a warm 28.4°C -- keep an eye on the radar, but the ocean usually delivers.