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Conditions at Sunset Reef in July
July: Big Winter Swells and the Cape Doctor
July is statistically the biggest month of the year at Sunset Reef, with an average swell height of 2.9m (9.5ft) and the longest average period of the year at 12.6s. This is serious, powerful groundswell territory, with a healthy share of waves breaking over the 2.5m mark. The dominant swell directions are SW, WSW and SSW, combined around 37%, with the SW lobe carrying most of the heavy energy. The wave direction data still shows very little pure W or WNW swell, but the strong south-west component refracts into the west-northwest-facing reef with real force. Wind-wise, SE and SSE offshore flow still appears frequently, but NW and NNW onshore winds also occupy a large part of the month, which is why ideal conditions only sit at 18%. The largest, most dangerous swells often come with strong north-west winds, so epic paddle-out days are rare. Water temperature hits a cold 15.1°C, air temperatures average 14.3°C, and rainfall remains high at 2.43mm per day.
Average Spot conditions at Sunset Reef in July
Swell history for July
Wind history for July
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Sunset 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 Sunset Reef for your next trip in July.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Sunset 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 Sunset Reef.