- Home
- ...Africa
South Africa- Sunset Reef
Conditions at Sunset Reef in October
October: Cape Doctor Returns and Swell Fades
October marks the true transition back to summer. Average swell height drops to 2.4m (8ft) and period shortens to 11.6s, signalling less organised groundswell. The dominant swell directions are still SSW and SW, with S playing a bigger role at 10.3%, and WSW adding a further 7.3%. The SE wind regime is back in command, with SE and SSE combining for over 40% of all wind observations. This is the return of the Cape Doctor, and while these winds are offshore for Sunset Reef, they are often too strong to keep the ocean clean for long. Ideal wind windows fall to 12%. Water temperature is 16.1°C, air temperature averages 16.2°C, and rainfall falls to 0.98mm per day. The surf becomes more inconsistent, but October can still deliver excellent waves whenever a late-season south-west swell lines up with a light dawn offshore wind.
Average Spot conditions at Sunset Reef in October
Swell history for October
Wind history for October
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Sunset Reef during October. 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 Sunset Reef for your next trip in October.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Sunset Reef for October. 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 Sunset Reef.