Top 12 of 32 surfing destinations scored for February · ERA5 reanalysis 2015-2024 · updated monthly
Jeffreys Bay comes into the prime band in February after missing it in January. Of the 32 surfing destinations in the dataset, 26 score 68 or better in February and 20 reach the prime band above 80, which puts it mid-table for the year.
Pipeline leads on 96 at 2.2 m @ 11 s. Across the top ten the spread is North America (3), Europe (3), Oceania (2), Africa (2). The month is split across both hemispheres — 3 of the ten best are south of the equator — so the choice is as much about flight time as about score.
Ranked by score out of 100. Each strip shows all twelve months, so you can see whether February is the spot's peak or its shoulder.
1. Pipeline Oahu, USA
96
Prime
Monthly score for Pipeline, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
97
96
93
86
73
64
64
64
68
90
95
98
56%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
2.2 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
24.5 °Csea temperature
22.2 °Cair temperature
Sep-Maybest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Pipeline: 96, within 2 points of its best month (December, 98). Swell averages 2.2 m at 11 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 24.5 °C with air at 22.2 °C — boardshorts.
Monthly score for Margaret River, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
95
95
96
97
90
82
71
73
81
88
93
95
71%days with working wind
14 knmean daily max wind
2.1 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
21.5 °Csea temperature
20.3 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Margaret River: 95, within 2 points of its best month (April, 97). Swell averages 2.1 m at 11 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 21.5 °C with air at 20.3 °C — a 3/2 shorty. It is one of the drier months, at 16 mm.
Monthly score for Essaouira, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
93
94
90
89
78
75
70
73
83
91
94
95
61%days with working wind
14 knmean daily max wind
2.2 mmean swell height
12 sswell period
17.1 °Csea temperature
15.1 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Essaouira: 94, within 1 point of its best month (December, 95). Swell runs 2.2 m at 12 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 17.1 °C with air at 15.1 °C — a 4/3 and boots. The season is turning over here — the months before this one score better.
Monthly score for Ho'okipa, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
94
92
85
79
70
65
64
59
68
84
92
94
66%days with working wind
15 knmean daily max wind
1.7 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
24.7 °Csea temperature
22.6 °Cair temperature
Sep-Maybest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Ho'okipa: 92, within 2 points of its best month (January, 94). Swell averages 1.7 m at 11 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 24.7 °C with air at 22.6 °C — boardshorts. The season is turning over here — the months before this one score better.
Monthly score for Mundaka, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
90
91
89
77
68
68
66
76
83
89
93
91
41%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.3 mmean swell height
12 sswell period
13.3 °Csea temperature
10.3 °Cair temperature
Aug-Junbest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Mundaka: 91, within 2 points of its best month (November, 93). Swell runs 2.3 m at 12 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 13.3 °C with air at 10.3 °C — a hooded winter suit.
Monthly score for Raglan, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
84
91
92
92
93
90
90
89
92
91
90
90
47%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
1.6 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
21.0 °Csea temperature
19.9 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Raglan: 91, within 2 points of its best month (May, 93). Swell runs 1.6 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 21.0 °C with air at 19.9 °C — a 3/2 shorty. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Carcavelos, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
90
89
91
81
64
63
47
57
72
85
90
89
44%days with working wind
12 knmean daily max wind
1.9 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
15.0 °Csea temperature
12.6 °Cair temperature
Sep-Aprbest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Carcavelos: 89, within 2 points of its best month (March, 91). Swell runs 1.9 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 15.0 °C with air at 12.6 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Monthly score for Le Morne, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
89
89
90
92
95
97
94
95
94
93
92
87
59%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
1.8 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
28.5 °Csea temperature
27.0 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
Le Morne works in February — 89 against a peak of 97 in June — so you are inside the season without being at the top of it. Swell averages 1.8 m at 10 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 28.5 °C with air at 27.0 °C — boardshorts, and shade between sessions. It is also the wet end of the year: 140 mm against a monthly average of 81 mm.
Monthly score for Biarritz, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
87
89
87
74
68
65
63
72
77
85
91
89
40%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.1 mmean swell height
12 sswell period
12.7 °Csea temperature
9.4 °Cair temperature
Aug-Maybest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Biarritz: 89, within 2 points of its best month (November, 91). Swell runs 2.1 m at 12 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 12.7 °C with air at 9.4 °C — a hooded winter suit.
Monthly score for Santa Cruz, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
89
89
88
83
79
72
64
59
75
85
87
89
22%days with working wind
9 knmean daily max wind
2.1 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
12.8 °Csea temperature
11.5 °Cair temperature
Sep-Junbest run of months
February is Santa Cruz's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 89. Swell averages 2.1 m at 11 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 12.8 °C with air at 11.5 °C — a hooded winter suit. It is also the wet end of the year: 158 mm against a monthly average of 72 mm.
Monthly score for Peniche, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
88
88
86
86
78
76
70
76
84
91
91
90
64%days with working wind
14 knmean daily max wind
2.7 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
15.2 °Csea temperature
12.5 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
February is effectively as good as it gets at Peniche: 88, within 3 points of its best month (October, 91). Swell runs 2.7 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 15.2 °C with air at 12.5 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Monthly score for Hossegor, January to December. February is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
89
88
90
85
75
69
70
78
86
91
90
92
38%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.6 mmean swell height
12 sswell period
12.8 °Csea temperature
9.4 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
Hossegor works in February — 88 against a peak of 92 in December — so you are inside the season without being at the top of it. Swell runs 2.6 m at 12 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 12.8 °C with air at 9.4 °C — a hooded winter suit.
Pipeline, USA scores highest in February at 96/100, based on ten years of ERA5 climatology scored for surfing. Its best run of months is Sep-May.
Where can I surf in warm water in February?
Uluwatu has the warmest sea among the spots that also score well in February — 29.9 °C, which is boardshorts, and shade between sessions, on a score of 85.
Is February a good month to surf?
Yes — 20 destinations in the dataset reach the prime band (80+) in February, so you have real choice rather than one option.
These scores are climatology, not a forecast. They are computed from ten years of
ERA5 reanalysis (2015-2024) and answer which month and which spot to book — not
whether this Saturday is on. For live conditions, open the
interactive map.