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Conditions at St Ives in August
August: Teasing the Turn
August remains small but the ocean starts to stir slightly more than July. Average swell height is still 1.2m (4ft), and average period ticks up to 8.4s, so the majority of waves are wind-driven and punchy rather than powerful. W (36.5%) and WSW (20.4%) dominate the swell rose, with WNW (15.5%) adding occasional better-aligned pulses. The frequency of 1.5-2m waves is a touch higher than July, giving hope for the first autumn pulses. Wind is a mixed bag: NNW (12.0%) and W (11.4%) are common onshore/cross-shore directions, while WSW (11.2%), SW (10.4%) and SSW (8.0%) provide offshore windows. Ideal conditions remain around 18%. Water temperatures reach their annual peak at 17.4°C, air temps average 16.7°C, and precipitation is moderate. Surfing is still mostly small, but late August often brings the first proper WNW swell of the season - a sign that the low season is about to end.
Average Spot conditions at St Ives in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at St Ives 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 St Ives for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at St Ives 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 St Ives.