Top 12 of 32 surfing destinations scored for November · ERA5 reanalysis 2015-2024 · updated monthly
November opens the season at Taghazout and Bells Beach and closes it at Santa Teresa and Puerto Escondido. Of the 32 surfing destinations in the dataset, 25 score 68 or better in November and 22 reach the prime band above 80, making it the strongest month of the year for surfing.
Pipeline leads on 95 at 2.1 m @ 11 s. Across the top ten the spread is Europe (5), North America (2), Africa (2), Oceania (1). The month belongs to the northern hemisphere: 8 of the ten best sit above the equator.
Ranked by score out of 100. Each strip shows all twelve months, so you can see whether November is the spot's peak or its shoulder.
1. Pipeline Oahu, USA
95
Prime
Monthly score for Pipeline, January to December. November 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
58%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
2.1 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
26.3 °Csea temperature
24.5 °Cair temperature
Sep-Maybest run of months
November is effectively as good as it gets at Pipeline: 95, within 3 points of its best month (December, 98). 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 26.3 °C with air at 24.5 °C — boardshorts. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Essaouira, January to December. November 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
55%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
2.1 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
19.1 °Csea temperature
17.9 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
November is effectively as good as it gets at Essaouira: 94, within 1 point of its best month (December, 95). 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 19.1 °C with air at 17.9 °C — a 3/2 shorty.
Monthly score for Mundaka, January to December. November 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
43%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.3 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
16.8 °Csea temperature
12.9 °Cair temperature
Aug-Junbest run of months
November is Mundaka's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 93. Swell averages 2.3 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 16.8 °C with air at 12.9 °C — a 4/3 and boots. It is also the wet end of the year: 203 mm against a monthly average of 121 mm. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Margaret River, January to December. November 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
66%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
2.1 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
19.3 °Csea temperature
16.8 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
Margaret River works in November — 93 against a peak of 97 in April — so you are inside the season without being at the top of it. 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 19.3 °C with air at 16.8 °C — a 3/2 shorty. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Ho'okipa, January to December. November 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
78%days with working wind
16 knmean daily max wind
1.7 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
26.0 °Csea temperature
24.8 °Cair temperature
Sep-Maybest run of months
November 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 26.0 °C with air at 24.8 °C — boardshorts. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Le Morne, January to December. November 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
58%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
1.7 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
26.5 °Csea temperature
25.2 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
Le Morne works in November — 92 against a peak of 97 in June — so you are inside the season without being at the top of it. Swell averages 1.7 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 26.5 °C with air at 25.2 °C — boardshorts. The season is turning over here — the months before this one score better.
Monthly score for Peniche, January to December. November 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
59%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
2.6 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
17.7 °Csea temperature
15.1 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
November is Peniche's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 91. Swell averages 2.6 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 17.7 °C with air at 15.1 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Monthly score for Biarritz, January to December. November 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
36%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.1 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
16.5 °Csea temperature
12.1 °Cair temperature
Aug-Maybest run of months
November is Biarritz's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 91. Swell averages 2.1 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 16.5 °C with air at 12.1 °C — a 4/3 and boots. It is also the wet end of the year: 210 mm against a monthly average of 124 mm. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Carcavelos, January to December. November 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
40%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
1.9 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
17.6 °Csea temperature
15.1 °Cair temperature
Sep-Aprbest run of months
November is effectively as good as it gets at Carcavelos: 90, within 1 point of its best month (March, 91). Swell averages 1.9 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 17.6 °C with air at 15.1 °C — a 4/3 and boots. It is also the wet end of the year: 83 mm against a monthly average of 50 mm. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Hossegor, January to December. November 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
34%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.6 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
16.8 °Csea temperature
12.0 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
November is effectively as good as it gets at Hossegor: 90, within 2 points of its best month (December, 92). Swell averages 2.6 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 16.8 °C with air at 12.0 °C — a 4/3 and boots. It is also the wet end of the year: 197 mm against a monthly average of 115 mm.
Monthly score for Newquay, January to December. November is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
88
88
85
74
67
64
64
72
79
83
90
88
78%days with working wind
17 knmean daily max wind
2.3 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
13.0 °Csea temperature
10.5 °Cair temperature
Aug-Aprbest run of months
November is Newquay's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 90. Swell averages 2.3 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 13.0 °C with air at 10.5 °C — a hooded winter suit. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Raglan, January to December. November 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
67%days with working wind
14 knmean daily max wind
1.8 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
17.8 °Csea temperature
16.2 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
November is effectively as good as it gets at Raglan: 90, within 3 points of its best month (May, 93). 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 17.8 °C with air at 16.2 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Pipeline, USA scores highest in November at 95/100, 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 November?
Uluwatu has the warmest sea among the spots that also score well in November — 29.9 °C, which is boardshorts, and shade between sessions, on a score of 85.
Is November a good month to surf?
Yes — 22 destinations in the dataset reach the prime band (80+) in November, 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.