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Sandend (Moray Firth) Seasonal Surf Averages

Based on the last ten years data for this location this page gives seasonal trends and an idea of what kind of conditions you can expect and when. Of course these are just averages - it's worth reading carefully to understand exactly what they mean and to recognise the kind of variation you could expect on a trip because an average can never tell the whole story. Click on a month below to see more detail.
If you want a past forecast for a specific date range then click here.

Local Photo


Swell Consistency and Wind Overview

Wind Swell Ground Swell
40%
17%

23%

Jan
39%
21%

18%

Feb
48%
17%

31%

Mar
36%
8%

28%

Apr
25%
2%

23%

May
17%
 
17%

Jun
9%
 
9%

Jul
13%
1%

12%

Aug
25%
5%

20%

Sep
41%
7%

34%

Oct
46%
18%

28%

Nov
51%
21%

30%

Dec
This graph shows the percentage of days that had a ridable wind swell (7 seconds period or more) or groundswell (10 seconds period or more) of over 3ft. It also shows the dominant wind direction. Not all of these days will neccessarily give great surf, and very short lived wind swells or longer period secondary swells may produce surf not recorded, but it gives a clear idea of the seasonal trend and a rough guide to the chances of scoring something ridable.

Monthly Overview

Jan
Swell
Consistency
40%
Average Swell
Height
6ft
Average Swell
Period
10s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Feb
Swell
Consistency
39%
Average Swell
Height
7ft
Average Swell
Period
11s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Mar
Swell
Consistency
48%
Average Swell
Height
6ft
Average Swell
Period
10s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Apr
Swell
Consistency
36%
Average Swell
Height
6ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
May
Swell
Consistency
25%
Average Swell
Height
4ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Jun
Swell
Consistency
17%
Average Swell
Height
4ft
Average Swell
Period
8s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Jul
Swell
Consistency
9%
Average Swell
Height
3ft
Average Swell
Period
8s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Aug
Swell
Consistency
13%
Average Swell
Height
4ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Sep
Swell
Consistency
25%
Average Swell
Height
4ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Oct
Swell
Consistency
41%
Average Swell
Height
6ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Nov
Swell
Consistency
46%
Average Swell
Height
7ft
Average Swell
Period
10s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Dec
Swell
Consistency
51%
Average Swell
Height
7ft
Average Swell
Period
10s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell

Understanding this Data

These swell averages are calculated ONLY on swells of more than 7 seconds period. This means this is the average height of a swell that's likely to produce ridable surf NOT an average of every wave heading toward the beach in a month. Likewise the period is the average period OVER 7 seconds. There will be days that have short period wind swells that won't produce and ridable swell and these are excluded from the averages. The consistency figure gives the percentage of days that meet this condition.

For example if the consistency is 50% you could expect the 'average' swell for about 15 days in the month. Of course an average tells only part of the story. A combination of very large and very small swells may produce the same average as a consistent medium sized swell.

Monthly Data

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Nearby Spots

Banff - Beach
Lossiemouth
Fraserburgh
St Combs to Inverallochy
Balmedie to Newburgh
Aberdeen - Beach
Nigg Bay
Stonehaven
Sinclairs Bay - Beach
Keiss
Cruden Bay
Peterhead (Sandford Bay)
Lunan Bay
Dunnet Bay
Castlehill to Murkle
Arbroath
Brora Beach
Murkle Point
Bu Sands
Thurso East
S*** Pipe
Brimms Ness - The Point
St Andrews West
St Andrews East
Sandside Bay
Kingsbarns
Melvich
Skail Bay Right
Skara Brae
Fisk Helliar
Strathy
Marwick
Birsay Bay
Armadale Bay
Seacliff
Belhaven Bay (Dunbar)
Torrisdale
Pease Bay
Coldingham Bay
Sango Bay
Durness (Balnakeil Bay)
Bamburgh
Beadnell Bay
Sandwood Bay
Quendale Bay
Melby
Seaton To Blyth
Gulberwick
Whitley Bay
Tynemouth - Longsands
South Shields
Sunderland
St Bees
Marske to Tees
Staffin Bay
Breckon
Redcar
Silecroft
Saltburn Beach
Port of Ness
Glenbrittle
Eoropie
Caravans
Graveyards
Westport
Machrihanish
Talisker Bay
Dunaverty
Whitby
Blackpool South