Conditions at Arrifana in October
October: The Atlantic Wakes Up
October is the classic turning point on Portugal's west coast. The North Atlantic roars back to life, lifting average swell heights to 1.8m (6ft) and periods to 11.4s. While NW remains dominant at 38.0% and WNW adds 17.7%, the W (5.9%) and SW/WSW (2.7%) component begins to fill in, and those direct westerly lines are gold at Arrifana. Offshore wind frequencies rise to 46%, with the NNE and E quadrants balancing out the NNW flow. Rain returns with 2.09mm/day, but so does quality. Water temps peak at 18.6C, making October one of the most comfortable months to get properly barrelled. When the first big cyclonic low parks itself west of Ireland, the resulting long-period swell can make Arrifana fire from dawn until dusk.
Average Spot conditions at Arrifana in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Arrifana during October. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Arrifana for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Arrifana for October. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Arrifana.