Conditions at Reef in August
August: Tiny Swell and Warm Water
August remains in the summer surf doldrums, but there is a faint pulse of hope. The average swell height stays at 4.6ft (1.4m), and the period creeps up half a second to 8.9s compared with July. The swell direction profile is almost as northerly as July, with NNW at 51% and NW at 35%, but there is a slightly greater share of WNW energy at 10% and a touch more W at 1.5%. Still, this is short-period, wind-driven stuff rather than true groundswell.
Wind is slightly less hostile than July: the offshore east to southeast quadrant accounts for 1.4% of the month, and ideal conditions double to 6%. NNW continues to dominate at 55%, but there is a slightly stronger N component at 15%. Water temperature reaches its seasonal peak around 17.8°C, air temperatures are warmest with a 20.7°C average, and precipitation sits at just 0.25mm/day. August surf is mostly for beginner whitewash or flat days; serious surfers keep their expectations low and their hopes on the first September swells.
Average Spot conditions at Reef in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Reef during August. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Reef for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Reef for August. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Reef.