Westport Breakwater • Statistics for February

February: Warm Water and Westerly Plenty

The longest periods of summer show up in February, with the average wave period climbing to 11.9s and average heights still a solid 6.5ft (2.0m). WSW swell remains the clear workhorse at 53.4 percent, with W adding 12.2 percent and WNW another 5.7 percent. The swell height distribution is bunched heavily in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) bands, meaning the breakwater usually has enough energy to hold shape, but the direct N/NW swell window is still only around 5 percent. It remains a spot where westerly energy wraps or re-forms, so that north-facing orientation can still pick up some push.

February is a good month for clean surface conditions, with ideal wind percentages up to 48 percent. The offshore SW flow is dominant, totaling nearly 20 percent of all winds, while SSW adds another 10 percent. Onshore N/NNW/NW winds are present but slightly less frequent than mid-summer, so early-morning southerlies often groom the swell before the sea breeze sets in. With the warmest water of the year at 18.2°C and air temperatures averaging 16.1°C, this is the month to squeeze in a light wetsuit and chase the morning glass before any afternoon easterly seabreeze develops. Precipitation is relatively low at 3.61 mm/day.