Surfing is the most weather-dependent sport on the planet — wind direction, swell period, tide and water temperature all have to align for a session to be worth paddling out. This page gives you a direct yes/no answer for any city, then explains the rules pros use to read a forecast. The three numbers experienced surfers check first are swell height, swell period and wind direction. Period under 8 seconds is local windswell — short, weak, choppy. 9–13 seconds is mid-range groundswell, the daily bread of most surf spots. 14+ seconds is long-period groundswell from a distant storm, and the same 1m height reading at 16 seconds can produce double-overhead waves at exposed reefs. Wind direction is the third pillar: light offshore wind (blowing from land to sea, 5–15 km/h) holds the wave face up, smooths chop and creates the hollow conditions surfers chase. Onshore wind above 20 km/h flattens the face and turns even a perfect swell into mush. Seasonal windows matter too. In the Northern Hemisphere, autumn (September–November) is widely regarded as the best window: long-period groundswell from hurricanes, water still warm from summer, light winds, fewer crowds. Winter (December–February) brings the biggest, coldest, most consistent surf — a 4/3mm wetsuit minimum. Summer is small and best for beginners. The Southern Hemisphere flips this calendar — Indonesia, Bali and Western Australia peak from May to September. Match wetsuit thickness to water temperature: boardshorts above 22°C, springsuit 18–22°C, full 3/2mm at 15–18°C, 4/3mm with booties below 15°C, and 5/4mm with hood and gloves under 10°C. Avoid surfing within 24–48 hours of heavy rain at urban beaches — runoff carries bacteria and is a documented infection risk. Get out of the water at the first thunderclap and stay out 30 minutes after the last strike. Search any city above to get a live surfing-weather score, hourly wind direction, and a 7-day outlook so you can pick the cleanest window of the week.
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