Pigsty seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The North Atlantic storm track shifts south and energises the Norwegian Sea through the heart of winter, and Pigsty feels it immediately. From October through March average wave heights climb into the 4-5ft (1.2-1.6m) range with punchy 7.5-8.5s periods. The beach's west-northwest exposure lines up beautifully with the dominant WSW, W, WNW and NW swell that these lows generate. Positive NAO phases in particular tend to fire a conveyor belt of frontal systems toward Norway, while high pressure over Scandinavia can lock in clean offshore ENE, E, ESE and SE winds. Cold air and water are the price you pay, but consistency and power are at their seasonal peak.
Fair Surf Season (April & September)
April and September sit in the transition zone. The Atlantic still has some life, but the average swell drops to around 3ft (0.9-1.0m) and periods lose their winter punch. The beach still sees a high percentage of W through NW swell, and when an easterly offshore breeze lines up, Pigsty can serve up clean, rippable 2-4ft (0.6-1.2m) waves. The trade-off is favourably warmer air and water, fewer storms, and more inconsistent surf windows.
Low Surf Season (May - August)
Summer is the slow season. Swell heights shrink to 2-3ft (0.6-0.9m), periods drop to 6.0-6.8s, and the percentage of clean offshore wind bottoms out at only 6-8 percent. Although the swell direction still favours the NW-W window, most of that energy is below head-high and often arrives as short-period, windswell-like surf. Frequent NNW-NW winds also tear the surface apart. This is the time to chase longboards, travel, or wait for the first September swells to light the fuse again.