Apache Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Apache Pier.

Overall, the outlook is a quiet one. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak waves with poor wind direction, so it’s a waiting game. The first wave that’s even worth a mention doesn’t show up until September 20th, so expect a solid gap of over a week with nothing worth paddling out for.

Let’s start with the beginning. Right through the 9th to the 19th, it’s all small, short-period slop. Swell heights are mostly 1 ft to 3 ft, with periods of only 4-8 seconds, so it’s weak, crumbly, and chopped up. The winds are mostly cross-onshore or onshore, making it even messier. The combined energy values are all in the double digits, like 15, 34, 47, so the ocean is basically flat. For the first week, don’t even bother.

Now, the one bright spot. On the morning of September 20th, a little window opens. The swell is still small, around 3 ft from the ESE, but the wind goes glassy – a light SSE breeze. That’s clean. The period picks up to 7 seconds, so it’s a bit more rideable, and the combined energy hits 73, which is still weak, but it’s the best we’ll see. The water temp is a touch warmer than normal at 84°F, so it’s just a bit muggy out there. The waves are surfable, but very ordinary. It’s a chance for the die-hards to get a couple of grovelly rides on a longboard, but it’s nothing to write home about.

The afternoon of the 20th goes back to cross-onshore, and the rest of the 16-day window returns to the same pattern: tiny, onshore, and weak. Crowds are likely at Apache Pier as it’s an exposed sandbar, but with this kind of swell, you’ll have it to yourself.

This is a classic blank run for the area. The season’s just not giving us anything. The forecasts can change, but for now, leave the boards in the shed.

- Rusty

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