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Conditions at San Onofre State Beach in August
August: Smallest Swell, Warmest Water
August is typically the lowest-energy month of the year at San Onofre. The average swell height drops to 3ft (0.9m), although the period remains long at 13.6s. Swell direction continues to favor the southwest: SW 46%, WSW 30%, and SSW 17% combine for 93% of all observations, with only 7% from W. Wave heights are dominated by the 2-3ft (0.5-1m) class, with a secondary cluster in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range. It is small, but it is not gutless - the long period gives the waves a smooth push that works well on a log or a fish.
Wind quality is still poor, with ideal conditions just 9% of the time. The W/WNW onshore gradient strengthens, producing a daily afternoon bump, while onshore S, SSW, SW and WSW winds run about 40%. Water temperature reaches its seasonal peak at 18.0°C, air temperatures average 23.2°C, and dry weather dominates. August is a fun, summery San Onofre session, but you are searching for small windows, not surfing all day.
Average Spot conditions at San Onofre State Beach in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at San Onofre State Beach 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 San Onofre State Beach for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at San Onofre State Beach 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 San Onofre State Beach.