Conditions at Contreiras in August
August: Small, Warm, and Wind-Limited
August is as slow as July in terms of swell energy but with a very slight pulse in period. Average swell height is 1.4m (4.6ft) and the average period is 9.1s. The directional mix is split almost evenly between NNW at 33.5 percent and NNE at 33.0 percent, with N at 18.0 percent, NW at 8.2 percent and NE at 4.4 percent. Wave heights mostly fall in the 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft) and 1.5-2m (4.9-6.6ft) classes, offering rideable but unspectacular surf. The wind pattern is the main problem: NNE still dominates at 38.1 percent, NE is at 29.5 percent, and NNW adds 11.5 percent. Ideal offshore conditions from the SSW-SW-WSW-W window occur only 7 percent of the time. Water temperature is at its warmest of the year at 23.2°C, air temps range 20.1-25.9°C, and rainfall is almost nonexistent at 0.21mm/day. August surf is small, cleanest early in the morning, and best suited to longboards and foamies. Keep an eye on the tropical Atlantic; late-month tropical remnants can occasionally send surprise pulses toward Portugal.
Average Spot conditions at Contreiras in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Contreiras 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 Contreiras for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Contreiras 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 Contreiras.