Woolacombe • Statistics for November

November: Storm Season Gears Up

November is serious surf month at Woolacombe. Average swell height rises to 6.2ft (1.9m), average period to 9.9s, and the low-pressure conveyor belt is in full swing. The dominant W swell at 23.1 percent and WSW swell at 18.3 percent are the main players, but there is markedly more NW and WNW energy totalling 12.3 percent, and swell over 2.5m is starting to appear more consistently. What November lacks in wind cleanliness, with only 10 percent ideal offshore wind, it makes up for in raw power and consistency. It is common to see overlapping swells from two or three recent storms, creating a drawn-out mix of 8-14s periods. A negative NAO pattern can build a high over Scandinavia and pull cold easterly winds across the UK, providing the offshore conditions Woolacombe needs. Those windows are magic: 6-10ft (1.8-3m) autumn-style lines, cool offshore breeze and hard, squaring peaks. Rain averages 4.23mm/day, air is 9.5C and water has dropped to 12.6C, so the winter rubber makes its seasonal return.