Gold Beach • Statistics for July

July: Peak Summer Lull

July is typically the slowest month of the year at Gold Beach. Average swell heights bottom out at 4.5ft (1.4m) with the shortest average period of the year at 9.7s. The swell direction is dominated by NW and NNW, which together make up nearly 60 percent of the directional observations, neither of which is in the preferred SSW-SW-W swell window. Waves are mostly in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) category, with a secondary pulse of 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) NW groundswell keeping some power in the water. Meanwhile, the wind is at its worst: NNW winds blow 45.5 percent of the time and N winds 26.9 percent, often 20-40+kph. The combination of short-period swells and relentless afternoon wind means surf quality is frequently poor. The saving grace is the pleasant summer climate: air temps average 15.6°C, rainfall is nearly zero at 0.21mm/day, and water temp is 11.2°C. Dawn patrol with an E/NE offshore and a longboard will find the occasional clean, playful wave, but big expectations should be left at home.