Mount Maunganui • Statistics for February

February: The Peak of Directional Consistency

February is often the most directionally consistent month of the entire year at the Mount. A massive 74.3 percent of all swell arrives from the optimal NNE-NE-ENE-E window, with NE alone at 30.4 percent and ENE at 25.1 percent. The average size nudges up to 1.2m (4ft), while the 8.9s average period keeps the shape punchy and lined up on the beach. The 1-1.5m and 1.5-2m classes are well represented, especially from ENE, so there is often a bit more push than January. The main enemy is the subtropical ridge: NE and ENE winds combine with light northerly flow to cut the ideal offshore wind frequency to 36 percent, meaning early mornings and late evenings are the go-to windows before the warmer air kicks up an onshore sea breeze. Water temperature peaks at 20.7°C, air averages 20.0°C, and rainfall is modest at 2.77 mm/day. When the wind plays ball, this is some of the best summer surf you will find on the North Island's east coast.