Conditions at Reef in July
July: The Doldrums Settle In
July is the absolute bottom of the surf calendar. Average swell height bottoms out at 4.6ft (1.4m), and the average period drops to 8.5 seconds - the shortest of the year. The directional distribution is even more extreme: NNW dominates with 54% of the swell, NW contributes 33%, and WNW adds only 9%. Essentially every wave at the reef is a windswell generated by the relentless northerly flow, with little of the organized, long-period energy needed to make this exposed west-facing reef shine.
Clean conditions are nearly nonexistent. The offshore east to southeast quadrant is below 1%, and the ideal-for-surfing percentage bottoms out at a brutal 3%. NNW wind blows a staggering 59% of the time, mostly at moderate to strong speeds, leaving the ocean bumpy and blown. If you are in Portugal in July, your best hope is a dawn patrol between breezes and a mellow longboard or foiling session. Water temperature holds at 17.4°C, air temps average 20.2°C, and precipitation is almost zero at 0.15mm/day - perfect beach weather, terrible surf weather.
Average Spot conditions at Reef in July
Swell history for July
Wind history for July
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Reef during July. 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 Reef for your next trip in July.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Reef for July. 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 Reef.