Getxo seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
From October through March, Getxo is fully exposed to the beating heart of the North Atlantic. This is when average wave heights sit in the 1.5-2.1m (5-7ft) range and swell periods run from 11.2 to 12.8 seconds. Low-pressure systems and cold fronts marching across the Atlantic generate long-period W, WNW, NW and NNW groundswell that unloads on this WNW-facing beach. Combine that with offshore E, ESE, SE and SSE wind days, and you get clean, powerful, organized surf. Air temperatures are colder and rain is frequent, but the trade-off is the best surf of the year.
Fair Surf Season (April - May and September)
The shoulder months deliver a mix of smaller NW swells and lighter winds. April averages 1.4m (4.5ft) at 10.8 seconds, May drops to 1.2m (4ft) at 9.9 seconds, and September begins to feel like autumn again with 1.2m (4ft) at 10.3 seconds. Conditions are less consistent and more dependent on windswell, but when the offshore breeze kicks in there are plenty of rippable, fun waves to be found.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
Summer is the quietest stretch of the year. Average wave heights hover around 1.0m (3.3ft) and periods drop to 8.8-9.2 seconds, producing short-period NW windswell and weak groundswell. Offshore wind frequencies are at their lowest, and onshore sea breezes often add chop. Surf quality is generally small, soft and less powerful, making this the time for longboards, high-volume boards and morning sessions before the wind gets up.