This image illustrates how frequently and how strongly the wind blows from different directions over a normal June. The biggest spokes point in the directions the wind most commonly blows from and the shade of blue suggests the strength, with the darkest shade of blue strongest. It is based on 1594 NWW3 forecasts of wind since since 2006, at 3hr intervals, for the closest NWW3 model node to Costa Nova, located 25 km away (16 miles). There are not enough recording stations world wide to use actual wind data. No doubt some coastal places have very localized wind effects that would not be predicted by NWW3.

According to the model, the most common wind at Costa Nova blows from the WNW. If the rose graph shows a fairly circular pattern, it means there is no strong bias in wind direction at Costa Nova. By contrast, dominant spokes illustrate favoured directions, and the more dark blue, the stronger the wind. Spokes point in the direction the wind blows from. During a typical June, the model suggests that winds are light enough for the sea to be glassy (pale blue) about 15% of the time (4 days each June) and blows offshore 19% of the time (6 days in an average June). Over an average June winds exceeding >40kph (25mph) are not expected, but 2 have winds on the range 30-40 (19-25) at Costa Nova

IMPORTANT: Beta version feature! Swell heights are open water values from NWW3. There is no attempt to model near-shore effects. Coastal wave heights will generally be less, especially if the break does not have unobstructed exposure to the open ocean.