Conditions at Reef in October
October: The Reawakening
October is when the North Atlantic roars back to life along the Portuguese coast. The average swell height climbs to 6.6ft (2.0m), and the average period jumps to 11.4 seconds, signalling a return to long-period groundswell. The direction distribution spreads out into a much healthier mix: NW leads at 30.6%, NNW adds 19.5%, WNW contributes 18.6%, and W delivers 6.7%. This is the first month since spring where the reef is regularly exposed to well-spaced, powerful lines arriving from the heart of the Atlantic.
Wind conditions sharpen too. The offshore east to southeast quadrant reaches about 11% of the month, and ideal surfing conditions sit at a respectable 22%. Dominant winds shift away from pure summer NNW to a more varied pattern of N, NNE, and NNW. Water temperature remains warm at 18.1°C while air temps cool to 17.6°C, and precipitation ramps up to 2.62mm/day as frontal systems return. October consistently delivers some of the best combinations of size, period, and offshore texture on the calendar.
Average Spot conditions at Reef in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Reef 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 Reef for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Reef 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 Reef.