Chicahauk Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up at Chicahauk.

Right from the start, it’s tough. The first week and a half is looking pretty bleak. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions from now through most of the month. The first real glimmer of a rideable wave doesn’t show up until Saturday, September 19th, so we’ve got a solid ten-day gap where the best advice is to leave the board in the car.

The water’s a warm 82°F at the start, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least a paddle is pleasant.

Chicahauk is a sandbar setup, fairly consistent when it’s on, but it’s taking a beating from the wind for most of this period. The swell direction it likes best is from the east, but for days on end we’re getting onshore and cross-onshore winds that just chop everything up.

The only standout in the whole 16-day window is the morning of Saturday, September 19th. We’ve got a solid 7 ft groundswell rolling in from the northeast, with a period of 7 seconds. That’s a moderate combined swell energy of 435. The wind is offshore from the WSW at 10 mph, which is a major positive. This will keep the surf clean. That 7 ft is right on the edge—it’s going to be a lot of power, so this is best left to the experienced crew. Beginners should sit this one out. The shorebreak might be a handful, but the offshore wind will make it look good. Because it’s a sandbar, a longer period swell could make it a bit straight, but the wind is the key here.

After that, it chops up again in the afternoon as the wind swings onshore, and the following days are back to poor conditions. There’s a glimmer on Tuesday the 22nd morning with a 5 ft swell and offshore wind again, but it’s not as clean and the energy is moderate (267). It’s a second-tier option at best.

So there you have it. One solid morning to aim for, and then we’re back to waiting. The rest of the month is a write-off, but it tends not to stay this flat forever.

Rusty.

Read more