Conditions at Pico da Mota in October
October: The North Atlantic Roars Back to Life
October is the true turning point at Pico da Mota. The North Atlantic roars to life as the climatological number of extratropical storms jumps, and the average swell height rises to 6.9ft (2.1m) with the period stretching back to 11.4s. The wave rose shows this transition: WNW 17.4%, NW 27.1% and NNW 18.1%, with heights spread across the 3-8ft (1-2.5m) range and occasional bigger pulses over 8ft (2.5m). Better yet, the wind pattern shifts in our favor. Ideal conditions climb to 23%, as the S, SSW, SW and WSW sectors combine for the largest offshore share since winter. The dominant wind directions are still NNW (17.8%) and NNE (11.2%), but the frequencies of southerly pre-frontal winds have increased significantly. When a strong low-pressure system tracks across the Atlantic and the wind is out of the south or southwest, Pico da Mota delivers clean, powerful, long-period surf. Water temp is still warm at 18.3°C, air averages 17.7°C, and rainfall increases to 2.87 mm/day - autumn has truly arrived.
Average Spot conditions at Pico da Mota in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Pico da Mota 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 Pico da Mota for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Pico da Mota 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 Pico da Mota.