Comporta seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The best surf season at Comporta runs from October through March, when the North Atlantic begins to roar and the coastline is hit by a steady stream of extratropical cyclones. Average swell heights climb into the 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) range, and average periods sit in the powerful 11-13 second band. The dominant WNW and W swells line up well with the exposed west-southwest-facing sand, while NW pulses supply much of the raw Atlantic volume. Cleaner windows come from offshore NE/ENE/E/ESE flow, and December and January are the peak months, with ideal wind percentages of 51-52 percent. During negative NAO phases, the storm track shifts south toward Iberia and the winter months become even more productive.
Fair Surf Season (April - May and September)
April, May and September make up the shoulder season. The ocean is still active enough to deliver playful 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) waves, but the periods tend to drop out of the 12-13 second range and into the 10-11 second range. As the Azores High strengthens in spring, the reliable northwest groundswell weakens and cross-shore northwesterly winds eat into the quality. September is the better of the three because early autumn lows and the remnants of tropical systems can inject pulses of SW/W swell before the winter pattern locks in.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
June, July and August are the low season at Comporta. With the Azores High settled over the eastern Atlantic, the storm track shifts north and the beach is left with small, short-period NW windswell. Average wave heights hover around 3ft (0.9-1m) with periods in the 8-9 second range, which translates into softer, more crumbly surf. The prevailing NNW/NW winds and daily thermal sea breezes add onshore texture. Only the occasional late-summer pulse from a passing low or a distant tropical system offers a clean, rippable window.