Ral Island • Statistics for July

July: Peak Trades, Minimum Wave Size

July is the lowest energy month of the year. Average wave height is 2.6ft (0.8m) and period bottoms out at 7.6 seconds, squarely in the average, punchy, rideable category. The wave rose is heavily weighted toward ENE at 44.0 percent and E at 27.3 percent, with NE at 12.9 percent. Only 7.9 percent of the energy comes from the favorable N, NNE, NW and NNW directions. Most days produce small, groveling 2 to 3ft (0.5 to 1m) surf, occasionally brushing the 3 to 5ft (1 to 1.5m) range on the E and ENE pulses.

Wind remains the saving grace. Ideal surfing conditions sit at 63 percent, with ESE flow at 30.1 percent, SE at 19.4 percent and E at 15.8 percent. For a north-facing reef, this gives mostly clean, groomed faces, but there simply isn't enough height or period to light up the spot. Expect air temperatures around 28.0°C, water temperature at 29.4°C and rainfall picking back up to 8.14mm per day. This is the low point of the surf calendar, so bring a groveler or a longboard.