Woolacombe • Statistics for October

October: The Roar Returns

The North Atlantic roars to life during October, and Woolacombe is perfectly positioned to feel it. Average swell jumps to 5.6ft (1.7m) with a period of 9.3s, and the amount of 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) swell increases across the board. W and WSW remain the backbone, combining for 48.7 percent of the swell rose, with SW increasing to 9.1 percent and NW plus WNW adding another 9.5 percent. This shift is driven by the climatological strengthening of extratropical cyclones; the jet stream rolls back south, and low pressures march across the North Atlantic with increasing frequency. Wind patterns are dynamic: offshore ENE and ESE winds account for 23.3 percent of the wind distribution, but westerly winds are right there alongside. Ideal wind is 11 percent. October is the classic month for the perfect combination of long-period W or NW swell, a high-pressure ridge and light E or SE winds, producing clean, hollow beach peaks. Water temperature is still a very surfable 14.7C, air averages 12.2C and rain returns with 3.78mm/day. This is often the best month of the year in the UK: big surf without the deepest winter chill.