Conditions at Salinas in October
October: The North Atlantic Roars Back
October is when the North Atlantic roars back to life and Salinas rediscovers its winter swell. Average wave height jumps to 4.3ft (1.3m) with an 11.2s period - a full 1.5 seconds longer than September. Northern hemispheric storm tracks are shifting south, and the beach is perfectly aligned to receive the NW (48%), NNW (23%) and WNW (12%) swells that power through the Bay of Biscay. More than a quarter of all readings are 5ft (1.5m) or larger, with the northwest direction contributing the majority of that robust energy. Ideal offshore winds come back strongly at 56%, as S/SW/WSW winds become more frequent with passing lows. Water temps remain pleasant at 17.1°C, air averages 15°C, and rainfall almost doubles from September to 3.1 mm/day. This transition month is one of the best combinations of quality and warmth on the calendar.
Average Spot conditions at Salinas in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Salinas 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 Salinas for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Salinas 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 Salinas.