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Conditions at Plettenberg Bay in August
August: Maximum Swell, Still-Clean Offshores
August is winter's final stand. The average swell remains at a meaty 2.5m (8ft), the period is still a solid 12.2s, and ideal wind frequency sits at 47%. The wind rose still strongly favors offshore directions - W (17.6%), WSW (14.1%), WNW (9.1%) and NNW (8.3%) - while the onshore E/ESE/SE flow starts creeping back to around 13%. Swell direction is led by SW (25.3%) and SSW (18.1%), with S (7.8%) and SSE (4.0%) adding extra lines. Most of the energy is in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) band, with the over-2.5m category still present. Water temps fall to the coolest reading of the year at 16.1°C, and rain picks up slightly to 1.68 mm/day. August is essentially July with a hint of spring in the air; the surf remains serious and the offshore stretches can be world-class.
Average Spot conditions at Plettenberg Bay in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Plettenberg Bay 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 Plettenberg Bay for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Plettenberg Bay 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 Plettenberg Bay.