Westport Breakwater • Statistics for August

August: Power and Period, Wind a Question

August packs a serious punch: the average swell height is 2.5m (8ft) with the longest average period of the year at 12.6s. The swell distribution shifts even further into the W/WNW part of the spectrum-WSW 32.9 percent, W 10.7, WNW 5.4-while the NW/NNW quadrant contributes 5.4 percent. There is still plenty of power in the water, and the 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) range is the most common height class, so Westport Breakwater will see solid, heavy waves even if the direction isn't always perfect.

The biggest issue is wind. Ideal conditions drop to 47 percent, and the N/NNE/NNW/NW onshore flow expands to about 17.6 percent. SW winds are still present at 15.3 percent, but spring is starting to stir, bringing more variable northerly pulses. Water temp is at its low of 12.2°C, air averages 9.1°C, and precipitation is 5.09 mm/day. You have to pick your windows more carefully in August-early-morning southerly breezes can turn a powerful 8ft groundswell into a clean, heaving breakwater, but the afternoon northwesterlies can wreck it quickly.