Cardiff Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Cardiff Reef over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, mate, this is a tough one to call. The water is a warm 72°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but the surf is in a real slump. We’re lookin’ at a long stretch of nothing special, with the first real glimmer of a session not poppin’ up until the back half of the run.

The first real standout I can point you toward is Monday morning, September 7th. The swell will be up around 6ft coming from the SSW with a solid 13-second period, and the combined energy is a chunky 1085 (moderate wave energy). That’s a bit of a jump from the tiny stuff before it. The wind is from the WNW at 9 mph, which is a cross-on, so it’ll be a bit messy, but there’s enough juice in the water to get a few good ones. This is probably the best look of the entire forecast, but it’s only for the intermediate crew; 6ft is pushing it for beginners.

After that, Tuesday, September 8th, offers a bit of a drop. The morning swell is 5ft from the SSW, with a clean 11-second period, and the wind goes light and onshore from the WNW at 6 mph. It’s a tricky one with the wind direction, but it’s a whole lot cleaner than Monday. The combined energy sits at 663 (moderate). It’s a definite “maybe” session.

The rest of the first week and into the second is a real grind. The swell drops off to 2ft to 3ft with poor wind directions, mostly cross-onshore. The combined energy values are all in the weak to moderate range (under 600). The 16-day run is mostly a write-off for quality waves.

There is a bit of a pulse in the second week, but it’s nothin’ to get excited about. Around Monday, September 21st, we see a marginal return of swell at 3ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, combined energy of 561 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-on from the SW, which might clean it up a bit. It’s a long-range call, so don’t bank on it, but it’s the only thing that looks like a surfable option in the final days.

Bottom line: The best bet is Monday morning, September 7th, for the biggest swell. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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