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Conditions at Plettenberg Bay in July
July: Midwinter Gold Standard
July is the peak of the winter swell season in Plettenberg Bay. The average height holds at 2.5m (8ft) and the average period peaks at 12.5s - the longest of the year. Ideal winds blow 48% of the time, and the offshore W (17.7%), WSW (10.4%), WNW (10.2%) and NNW (13.4%) directions dominate the wind rose. Onshore E/ESE/SE winds account for under 10%, giving the bay unusually consistent clean-surface conditions. The swell direction breakdown is heavy on SW (29.8%) and SSW (19.5%), with a meaningful slice of 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) surf and a small percentage pushing beyond 8ft. It is not rare to see well-overhead Southern Ocean groundswell rolling into the bay, groomed by offshore winds. Air temps bottom out around 13.2°C and water temps sit at 16.6°C; a 4/3mm with gloves and hood is often the go-to. If you want maximum power and are willing to brave the cold, July is the benchmark month.
Average Spot conditions at Plettenberg Bay in July
Swell history for July
Wind history for July
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Plettenberg Bay during July. 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 Plettenberg Bay for your next trip in July.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Plettenberg Bay for July. 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 Plettenberg Bay.