Ericeira seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
Ericeira's west-facing points and beachbreaks are in their prime when the North Atlantic storm machine spins up. From October through March, average surf heights range from 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m), and periods sit in the 11-13s range, giving the reefs and sandbars serious power. The dominant swell directions are NW and WNW, with a healthy dose of W and occasional SW wrapping into the bay. The key to great waves, however, is wind: when a high-pressure ridge sets up over Iberia, light offshore flow from the NE through ESE cleans up the lines. Those are the days Ericeira lives up to its reputation. Positive NAO phases tend to send strong lows toward Portugal, while the accompanying Atlantic fronts bring size but also westerly onshore wind; timing the post-frontal offshore flow is everything.
Fair Surf Season (April & September)
April and September are the classic shoulder months. The ocean is still alive but less consistent: average heights drop to 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m), and periods slide into the 10-11s range. NW/NNW groundswell is still plentiful, and with water temperatures around 15-18°C and air warming, it can be more pleasant to sit in the lineup. The trade-off is wind: ideal offshore days become rarer as the seasonal wind regime shifts, so you'll want to pick your sessions carefully and watch for early-morning windows.
Low Surf Season (May - August)
Summer brings the smallest and least consistent surf of the year, with average heights down to 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m) and periods in the 8-9s range. The swell is mostly windswell generated by the strong NNW trade flow that builds across the Bay of Biscay and the Galician coast. That same NNW wind is the main problem: it blows 20-40kph for weeks on end, making most of the exposed west-facing breaks bumpy and sectiony. Surfable waves are still there, especially early in the morning or on days with a lucky E/NE offshore, but this is the season for longboards and fun-size waves rather than serious grinding barrels.