Conditions at Backdoor in August
August: Still Small, but the Pulse Is Returning
August remains firmly in the summer lull, but the numbers hint at the transition ahead. Average swell height is the year's lowest at 1.6m (5.2ft), and period is only 8.0s. ENE (57.2%) and E (33.5%) still dominate the swell rose, with NE at 5.7%. Winds are locked into the trade regime: ENE (50.4%) and E (41.3%) account for over 91% of observations, and ideal offshore wind is just 14%. In practice, Backdoor sees sections of small, bumpy trade-wind surf. The subtle good news is that the North Pacific is starting to stir in the background, and late August can occasionally produce an early-season north swell. But for now, consistency is poor. Air temperatures are 26.1°C (min 22.8°C, max 30.0°C), rain is 1.07 mm/day, and water temperature is 26.4°C.
Average Spot conditions at Backdoor in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Backdoor 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 Backdoor for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Backdoor 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 Backdoor.