Banzai Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – we’ve got a long stretch ahead at Banzai, and honestly, it’s not looking pretty. The whole 16-day window is basically a write-off for decent surf. There’s nothing that qualifies as a standout, not even close. The wind is almost constantly onshore or cross-onshore from the SE or ESE, which is exactly the wrong direction for this spot. The swell is tiny, weak, and short-period, keeping the wave quality very poor. We’re looking at a solid 16-day gap with no real recommendations.

The first hint of any surf comes on Wednesday the 9th of September, but it’s a complete no-go. That afternoon shows a 3ft swell from the SE at a weak 7 seconds, with onshore wind at 12 mph. The combined energy is a measly 88, so there’s just no power in the water. The water temp is sitting at 86°, which is about 2° warmer than average for this time of year – a bit notable, but it won’t help the waves.

The rest of the first week is just more of the same. Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th see swell bumping up to 5ft and 6ft, but again, it’s from the ESE/SE, short period around 8 seconds, and the wind stays onshore. The energy does climb into the moderate range – 457 and 470 – but with that wind, it’s just messy, choppy conditions. Saturday the 12th through Monday the 14th are a little better with a light breeze at times, but it’s still cross-onshore, and the swell is weak and short. Not worth a paddle.

The second week is even worse. From Tuesday the 16th all the way through to Thursday the 24th of September, the swell drops below 3ft, with periods of 6 to 7 seconds. The energy values are all in the weak 36 to 153 range. The wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, which means the surface is never going to clean up. There’s a couple of days with a light cross-shore breeze from the NE on the 22nd and 23rd, but the swell is just too small and weak to do anything with.

Bottom line: Banzai is a total no-go for the entire 16-day forecast. The swell is small, short-period, and on the wrong direction, and the wind is never favorable. It’s a blank run, and for this area, that’s not unusual when the trade winds lock in from the SE. Don’t bother checking the cams. I’d say it’s probably more interesting for kite surfing than paddling, given the persistent onshore wind and small, choppy waves.

Keep the board in the bag, folks. This one’s a write-off.

Rusty.

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