Gold Beach • Statistics for August

August: The Dog Days Stay Small

August remains firmly in the summer low season. The average swell height is again 4.5ft (1.4m) and the average period is 9.9s, so Gold Beach is still relying on short-period NW energy. NW and WNW swells dominate the wave rose at 37.4 percent and 26.0 percent respectively, while NNW adds 15.1 percent; the direct W and WSW swells that work best here are a smaller part of the mix. Wind conditions are the main limiting factor: NNW winds are the dominant player at 39.5 percent and N winds add 24.8 percent, often blowing strongly out of the 20-40kph range. However, ideal wind improves slightly to 19 percent as NNE and NE flows appear a bit more often than in June and July. That makes August a slightly better month than July for morning glass. Water temps reach their annual peak at 11.6°C, air temps average a comfortable 16.0°C, and rainfall stays low at 0.35mm/day. Not a month for chasing heavy waves, but the long summer evenings and clean dawn windows can still produce some fun.