"Winter is better" is true and useless: it does not say whether that better is meant for you. Two figures settle it, and both are published month by month.
The two figures that decide
Height tells you the size. Period tells you where the swell came from: above 12 seconds these are North Atlantic trains that wake the points up; at 8 seconds it is local windswell that leaves the same points asleep at the same height.
| Month | Swell | Period | Water | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January – February | 2.2 m | 12.5 s | 17 – 18 °C | high |
| March | 1.8 m | 12.5 s | 18 °C | medium |
| April | 1.4 m | 11 s | 18 °C | medium |
| May – June | 1.0 – 0.7 m | 8 s | 19 – 20 °C | low |
| July – August | 0.7 – 0.9 m | 8 s | 20 – 22 °C | high |
| September | 1.5 m | 11 s | 21 °C | medium |
| October | 2.0 m | 11 s | 21 °C | medium |
| November – December | 2.2 m | 12.5 s | 18 – 19 °C | high |
It is the period row that explains why May and January do not compare, even when the sea looks similar from the beach.
The month that matches you
To learn: April and May. 1.4 m then 1.0 m over sand, water on the way up, and prices at the floor. If one week a year is all you get, take that one.
To progress: September and October. The swell returns to 11 seconds, enough for the sandbars to push properly, not enough to close the door.
For the points: November to February. 2.2 m at 12.5 seconds, and everybody knows it: camps want six to eight weeks' notice.
The compromise: October and March. Nearly high-season swell without high season. It is what the regulars pick, set out in October and March.
August is the worst trade in the calendar: 0.9 m of swell at maximum prices and maximum crowds, between Moroccan and European school holidays.
The wetsuit, without getting it wrong
The water drops to 17 °C in February and reaches 22 °C in August. A 3/2 mm covers the year, a 4/3 mm makes long winter sessions comfortable, a shorty is enough from July to September. Camps hire all three, so it is no reason to pay for luggage.
Frequently asked
Is there a month you cannot surf?
No. There are months when the points do not work, which is a different thing: the sandbars at Tamraght and the bay at Imsouane stay rideable all year.
How far ahead should I book?
Six to eight weeks from November to February. A few weeks the rest of the year.
Is the wind a problem?
It is workable 57 % of the time in winter and 45 % in June. That is why sessions run in the morning: it comes up during the day.
The twelve months are set out in the seasons guide.
