Black Beach surf forecast
Varkala · Kerala · India
The dark-sand beach below Varkala's North Cliff, about a kilometre north of the main Papanasam stretch. It tends to be a little punchier than the main beach and is where improving surfers go once they have outgrown the whitewater. Surf it early, before the sea breeze.
- Break
- beach break, lefts and rights; faces WSW
- Level
- intermediate
- Best swell
- SW, SSW, W
- Best wind
- E, NE, SE (offshore)
- Best tide
- mid tide
- Season
- October-April
- Typical size
- 0.5-1.5 m
- Crowd
- medium
- Hazards
- rips; shore break
Best time to surf Black Beach
For intermediate surfers the best months are August to October: in October about 6 days have rideable waves and 1 rate good or better. Beginners find the friendliest waves in October. Experienced surfers looking for size and power: October. Local guides: October-April.
Water 25 °C in August to 30 °C in April: Boardshorts / rash vest in winter, Boardshorts / rash vest at the warmest.
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Beginner days | Typical size | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.7 m | 29 °C |
| Feb | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.8 m | 29 °C |
| Mar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 m | 30 °C |
| Apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 m | 30 °C |
| May | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 m | 30 °C |
| Jun | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 m | 27 °C |
| Jul | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 m | 26 °C |
| Aug | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 m | 25 °C |
| Sep | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 m | 27 °C |
| Oct | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1.1 m | 29 °C |
| Nov | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.0 m | 29 °C |
| Dec | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 29 °C |
Days per month, typical of the last three years of wave and wind model data, rated with the same scale as the forecast. Not a forecast: some years are better than others.
More surf spots nearby: surf spots in Varkala.
Nearby spots
- Varkala, Varkala
- Edava, Edava
- Kappil, Kappil
- Kovalam (Kerala), Kovalam
Questions
When is the best time to surf Black Beach?
For intermediate surfers August to October; in October about 6 days a month have rideable waves and 1 are good or better. For beginners October. Local guides say: October-April.
What is the water temperature at Black Beach and which wetsuit do I need?
The sea ranges from about 25 °C in August to 30 °C in April. Wear a Boardshorts / rash vest in the coldest months and a Boardshorts / rash vest in the warmest.
Is Black Beach good for beginners?
It is best for intermediate surfers (rips; shore break). Beginners nearby can try Varkala, Varkala.
What swell, wind and tide work best at Black Beach?
SW, SSW, W swell, E, NE, SE wind (offshore), at mid tide. Typical size 0.5-1.5 m.
Live swell, wind, tide, a 14-day outlook, satellite pictures and webcams for Black Beach are in the Surf Spoting app.