Roads End • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Pacific is fully charged through the fall and winter, and Roads End feels every bit of it. The Aleutian low strengthens, the storm track drives powerful extratropical systems toward this west-facing stretch of coastline, and average swell heights push from 2.0m (6.6ft) in October up to as high as 2.8m (9.2ft) in December. The dominant swell directions are W, WNW, WSW and NW - exactly the window that hits Roads End best. Average periods sit between 11.7 and 12.9s, placing the surf firmly in the powerful, long-period class. Yet the true magic of these months is the wind: offshore ENE, E, ESE and SE flow occurs 33-36% of the time, often as high pressure builds inland between frontal systems. The result is cold, wet, heavy and occasionally world-class surf. A 5/4 hooded wetsuit is part of the uniform.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September are transitional months with real potential. April still holds a solid 2.1m (6.9ft) average swell from W/WNW but spring north winds begin to take over, cutting ideal wind to 20% and adding texture to otherwise powerful waves. September is the mirror image: the North Pacific high is beginning to break down, average swell climbs to 1.5m (4.9ft), period stretches to 10.8s and ideal wind rises to 27%. Both months reward the flexible surfer who can pick off the windows between the wind shifts.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

From May through August the North Pacific high retreats north and the winter storm track goes quiet. Average swell drops to 1.3-1.6m (4.3-5.2ft) and average periods fall to 9.7-10.8s, so the power drops substantially. Even though the swell still comes from the W/WNW/NW window, the prevailing NNW wind machine takes over - especially July, when NNW blows 56% of the time and ideal offshore wind is just 7%. Waist-to-chest-high, bumpy conditions are the norm, but dedicated dawn patrols can still find clean, rippable corners on the better mornings.