Tofino – Long Beach
Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
Sports: Surfing, Surf foiling, SUP
Best time to go: January–April, October–December
Long Beach is the largest beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island, stretching for about 16 kilometres between Tofino and Ucluelet inside Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. It faces the open Pacific and picks up almost any swell, with peaks breaking over sand along its length and some rocks near Incinerator Rock at the northern end. Easterly winds blow offshore, and mornings are often the cleanest time of day.
In summer the swells are small and the waves gentle, which suits learners, longboards and prone foils, while autumn brings bigger and more consistent surf. Winter storms make it large, messy and cold. Because the beach is so long, foilers can usually find space away from surf schools and swimmers, and they should do so; as it is a national park, check local rules before riding. The water stays cold all year, so a thick wetsuit, boots and often a hood are needed. Watch for rip currents, floating logs, fog and rapidly changing weather.
Month by month at Tofino – Long Beach
- January: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 2.7 m, water 9°C, air 8°C (nights 4°C), 10 sunny days, 18 rainy days
- February: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.6 m, water 9°C, air 8°C (nights 3°C), 13 sunny days, 18 rainy days
- March: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.3 m, water 8°C, air 9°C (nights 4°C), 15 sunny days, 21 rainy days
- April: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 10°C, air 11°C (nights 5°C), 21 sunny days, 15 rainy days
- May: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 12°C, air 14°C (nights 8°C), 24 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- June: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 14°C, air 16°C (nights 11°C), 23 sunny days, 10 rainy days
- July: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 15°C, air 18°C (nights 13°C), 27 sunny days, 6 rainy days
- August: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 16°C, air 19°C (nights 14°C), 25 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- September: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 15°C, air 17°C (nights 12°C), 21 sunny days, 9 rainy days
- October: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 2.3 m, water 12°C, air 14°C (nights 9°C), 19 sunny days, 17 rainy days
- November: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 2.7 m, water 11°C, air 10°C (nights 5°C), 11 sunny days, 18 rainy days
- December: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2.9 m, water 10°C, air 8°C (nights 5°C), 8 sunny days, 23 rainy days
When is the best time to go surfing & surf foiling at Tofino – Long Beach?
January–April, October–December, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Tofino – Long Beach?
8°C to 16°C over the year: a 5/4 with boots in the warmest month, a 6/5 with hood, boots and gloves in the coolest.
How windy is Tofino – Long Beach?
About 38 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in December.
Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
Spots near Tofino – Long Beach
- Squamish Spit (202 km)
- Westport – Washington (271 km)
More: All spots in Canada · Surfing in Canada · Surf foiling in Canada · SUP in Canada
Compare with: Hood River – Event Site vs Tofino – Long Beach · Tofino – Long Beach vs Westport – Washington · Short Sands – Oregon vs Tofino – Long Beach