Conditions at Zarautz in August
August: Summer Swell, Summer Crowds
August mirrors July: average swell height is 3ft (1.0m), period 9.2s, and the NW direction dominates with a staggering 64.9% of all observations. There is a bit more 1.5-2m (5-6ft) energy than in July, but it remains small-scale, short-period and inconsistent. The beach is also at its busiest, packed with holiday crowds, which makes chasing the few clean peaks even harder.
Winds still run from the unfavourable side of the compass: NNW (16.7%), NW (12.7%), NNE (12.7%) and WNW (11.3%) combine to put a lumpy onshore texture on almost every session. Ideal conditions occur just 21% of the time. Air temperatures reach the annual maximum at 20.8°C, water temperature peaks at 22.5°C, and rainfall is scarce. Occasionally a dying hurricane or strong North Atlantic frontal system sends a decent NW swell into the Bay, but without an offshore wind Zarautz rarely shows its true face. Patience, a grovel board and a dawn alarm are required.
Average Spot conditions at Zarautz in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Zarautz 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 Zarautz for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Zarautz 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 Zarautz.