- Home
- ...Africa
South Africa- Buffels Bay
Conditions at Buffels Bay in August
August: Still Pumping, Though the Trade Wind Leaks Back
August is the tail end of prime winter, and the surf is still serious. Average swell height remains 9ft (2.8m) with a 12.2s period, but ideal wind frequency drops to 48% as the ESE/SE trade wind starts to reassert itself more often. Wind records show W (13.9%) and WSW (12.3%) increasing, while NNW (8.9%) and WNW (8.9%) remain solid offshore components, a sign that some fronts are now followed by stronger W/SW winds rather than a clean NW flow. Swell sources are similar to July: SW (19.3%) and SSW (12.0%) dominate, with SSE/SE/S energy still present. Expect powerful, long-period waves, but a chop factor can creep in on days with south-westerly wind. When the synoptic pattern aligns and NW offshores blow over the SSE-facing bay, August can still deliver heavy, high-quality sessions. Water temp is now 15.8°C, air temps average 13.5°C, and precipitation becomes more frequent at 1.68 mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Buffels Bay in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Buffels Bay 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 Buffels Bay for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Buffels Bay 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 Buffels Bay.