Punta Huanchaco • Statistics for October

October: Spring Lull, Short Windows of Clean

October marks the beginning of the spring surf lull at Punta Huanchaco. The average swell height drops to 1.6m (5.2ft) and the period, while still healthy at 13.0s, is no longer backed by the same consistent storm train. SSW swell remains dominant at 74.9 percent, with S swell at 24.2 percent. However, the energy distribution starts to fatten: 24.9 percent of observations now fall in the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) class, while 1.5-2m remains the largest single class at 38.9 percent.

The bigger problem is the wind. Ideal conditions fall to just 23 percent, tying the year's low. S and SSW winds make up 84.1 percent of all wind observations, and with the sun strengthening, afternoon sideshore flow increases. When the combo lines up, an early E/SE offshore breeze over a fading SSW groundswell, there are still fun and lined-up waves. But October is no longer the reliable big-wave month. Water temperature is at its coldest at 17.0°C, and air temperatures are mild at 18.8°C.