fbpx

The surf and weather for greater Rote region play out in three seasons:

  1. Dry season: May-September
  2. Wet season: December-March
  3. Transitional/Shoulder seasons: March&April, October&November.

From June through August/September Rote is a swell magnet, picking up the much-celebrated Indian Ocean swell-train tracking up towards West Australia and the upper latitudes. Certainly every ocean has its characteristics that make up the formula for consistent, quality surf but few are blessed with those of the Indian Ocean’s strength and power.

Key Characteristics of Nembrala

The key features for swell and magical surf are fetch, wind duration, wind direction and coastal contour. When waves steam into Nembrala Bay at T-land, they have been borne the offspring of massive storm swells in the deep Antarctic. These swells have undergone an extended fetch of not hundreds, but thousands of miles. (It is not uncommon to see twenty-second intervals). These are finely groomed swells generating immense energy and power.  Finally, when they power into our shoreline, they are bent and angled by our numerous angular coves and reefs and then finished to perfection with the prevailing direct offshore trade wind.

The strength of our trade winds can mirror those of the Hawaiian Islands, blowing the strongest in the month of June, July and August. Light offshore and variable wind conditions prevail typically early and late season. The resulting shoulder season climatic recipe makes for ideal conditions for the outer islands and polishes the right-handers to a reflective blue-green glass or feathering offshore. The surf is typically less consistent during the shoulder season, but the crowds are thinner, variety is the spice of life and big days are not unusual.

The shoulder season March/April and October/November is a great time to be in Rote with a great variety of waves and a lack of visitors. Swells may be less consistent, but the exploration of other spots, laid-back atmosphere and insane fishing makes up for it.