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Conditions at Plettenberg Bay in October
October: Swell Hangs On, but the Sea Breeze Bites
October is the first month where summer's onshore wind pattern starts to win more often. Average swell height is still decent at 2.3m (7.5ft), but the period shortens to 11.1s and ideal wind drops to 38%. The wind rose shows a tug-of-war between WSW (15.2%) and W (13.0%) offshore winds and E (12.6%) plus ESE (10.9%) onshore winds. Directly aligned ESE/SE swell becomes more common, totaling about 11.5% of the swell spectrum - the best window of the year for truly east-orientated swell. But those direct swells often ride in with E/ESE winds, making conditions bumpy and lumpy. SSW (21.3%) and SW (18.7%) swell still provides the main winter-style groundswell. Water warms to 17.1°C and air reaches 16.4°C. October is a pick-and-choose month: the good windows are very good, but the onshore chop can make it frustrating.
Average Spot conditions at Plettenberg Bay in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Plettenberg Bay 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 Plettenberg Bay for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Plettenberg Bay 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 Plettenberg Bay.