Conditions at Zarautz in October
October: The North Atlantic Roars Back
October is a turning point on the Basque coast. The average swell height jumps to 5ft (1.6m), the period rises to 11.2s, and Zarautz starts to light up with genuine autumnal groundswell. The directional mix is ideal: 41.5% NW, 27.4% WNW and 8.7% NNW, with most of that energy concentrated in the 1-2.5m (3-8ft) range. The first true XXL days of the season can arrive when a deep early-autumn low spins up west of Ireland and aims its fetch directly at the Bay of Biscay.
Equally important, October sees a return to favourable winds. S/SSW offshore flow makes up a combined 23.8% of the wind observations, and the ideal-window percentage jumps to 44% - the best of any month along with December. Water temperature is still pleasant at 18.5°C, air temps average 16.1°C, and precipitation begins to rise to 3.30 mm/day, signalling the return of unsettled and productive weather. This is the reliable, high-quality month when the post-summer season truly begins.
Average Spot conditions at Zarautz in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Zarautz 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 Zarautz for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Zarautz 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 Zarautz.