Sunset Reef • Statistics for August

August: Late Winter Consistency

August holds onto the winter pulse, with an average swell height of 2.8m (9.2ft) and a period of 12.4s. The swell mix is still packed with SSW, SW and WSW energy, and there is enough south-west groundswell to keep the reef active for most of the month. The ideal wind score eases slightly to 16%, as SE winds become the leading offshore flow at 15.3%, with SSE adding another 8.3%. The bad-wind side of the ledger is still notable, with NNW and NW combined around 24%, meaning the onshore north-west days can still produce messy, stormy conditions. As August progresses, the storm track begins to lose some of its winter intensity, but the ocean remains very consistent and the average wave height stays high. Water temperature bottoms out at 15.0°C, the coldest of the year, while average air temperature is 14.3°C. This is the last full month of deep winter power, and experienced surfers will find plenty of size if they pick the south-east windows.