Conditions at Santa Cruz in November
November: Autumn Storm Machine
November is one of the most reliable months for quality surf at Santa Cruz. Average swell height is 7.5ft (2.3m) and the period sits at 12.0s, putting the spot at the mercy of real late-autumn groundswell. The direction mix is excellent: NW (23.7%), NNW (17.4%), WNW (15.6%) and W (5.6%) deliver 62.3% of all wave energy, with smaller contributions from WSW and SW angles adding extra variety. A sizable chunk of the swell is in the 4.9-8.2ft (1.5-2.5m) range, with a few bigger days over 8.2ft (2.5m) as lows deepen over the North Atlantic.
Wind is favourable around 21% of the time, and the offshore E/ESE/SE/SSE quadrant is present about 19%, often in the wake of cold fronts when high pressure builds from the east. This is the classic recipe for Santa Cruz: solid northwest swell meeting clean offshore flow. Air temperatures average 14.5°C (min 3.9°C, max 23.5°C), precipitation is the wettest of the year at 3.07 mm/day and water temperature has cooled to 16.6°C. Expect changeable conditions and be ready to move fast when the wind shifts.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Cruz in November
Swell history for November
Wind history for November
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Cruz during November. 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 Santa Cruz for your next trip in November.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Cruz for November. 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 Santa Cruz.