Conditions at Santa Cruz in July
July: The Summer Slump Deepens
July is the slowest month of the year at Santa Cruz. The average swell height is 4.6ft (1.4m) and the average period is 8.5s, placing most days in the small, groveling category. The swell direction is almost exclusively NNW (54.2%) and NW (33.0%), with WNW adding 9.2% and W only 1.3%; the alignment is perfect, but there simply is not enough period or size to generate quality on the beach break. Waves are mostly windswell, and the best surfers will be found on mid-lengths and logs.
Wind makes a bad situation worse. Ideal surf conditions are only 3%, the lowest of the year, and NNW winds blow 55.3% of the time; N winds add another 16.6%. The persistent northwest breeze, created by the Iberian thermal low, keeps the surface lumpy. Air temperatures average 20.2°C (min 14.0°C, max 33.9°C), precipitation is just 0.15 mm/day and water temperature is 17.3°C. If you score a clean wave in July, you have earned it.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Cruz in July
Swell history for July
Wind history for July
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz for your next trip in July.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.