Conditions at El Frontan in August
August: Late-Summer Trade Wind Blues
August remains trapped in the same summer pattern as July. The average swell is 4-5ft (1.4m) with an 8.4s period, dominated by NNE at 69.5% and N at 20.2%. NNW energy drops to 9.2%, so the swell direction is less ideal than earlier months, though still from the north quadrant. The short periods mean the waves are windswell through and through - fun for bodyboarding, but rarely offering the clean, wrapping lines El Frontan is known for in winter.
Ideal offshore wind sits at just 1%, with NNE at 60.3% and NE at 24.8% controlling the weather. Water temp reaches the yearly high of 22.7°C and air averages 22.6°C, with minimal rain. The persistent northeast trade wind, strengthened by the Azores High, gives the coast a constant onshore push. Unless a rare tropical remnant or strong low sends a longer-period swell into the Bay of Biscay, August is best rated as poor-to-marginal.
Average Spot conditions at El Frontan in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at El Frontan 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 El Frontan for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at El Frontan 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 El Frontan.