Port Orford • Statistics for July

July: High Pressure and Minimal Swell

July is the quintessential summer high-pressure month. The North Pacific High locks in, and Port Orford sees average swells of just 5ft (1.5m) with a shorter 9.4s period-the least powerful period of the year. The wave rose is flipped to the north side of the compass: NW 31.4%, NNW 27.8%, WNW 21.4%, W 13.0%. This is mostly shorter-period wind swell and old sea. The wind story is excellent for surface conditions: NNW at 39.0%, N at 29.8%, and NNE at 13.9% give a very frequent offshore flow, but ideal surf time is only 35% because there is often too much wind strength or not enough wave energy. Air temps are the warmest of the year at 15.6°C (min 8.5°C, max 28.0°C), rain is almost nonexistent at 0.21mm/day, and water temperature drops slightly to 10.9°C due to summertime upwelling. The upwelling brings cold water and sometimes a strong northerly sea breeze, so keep expectations low and step down a board.