Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next few weeks at Conto Springs. We’ve got a solid run of swell coming in, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than what we’d normally expect for this time of year – a nice little bonus if you ask me.

The real action kicks off Monday morning, September 7th. We’re looking at a powerful SW groundswell pushing in at 12 feet with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined swell energy is massive at 6512, so you’ll feel that deep ocean pulse. The wind is offshore from the SE, keeping it clean. This is strictly for the experts though – that size and power is not for the faint of heart. The morning is the standout here.

Tuesday morning, September 8th, is the absolute standout of the entire forecast. The swell jumps to 13 feet from the SW with a period of 17 seconds, and the energy reading is a massive 8952. The wind is offshore from the ESE, and the whole setup is described as exceptional. This is the session you’d rearrange your life for. Over 8 feet means it’s experts only, and this is a big one.

Wednesday morning, September 9th, the swell drops back to 10 feet, but the wind goes cross-off from the ENE, keeping it clean. The energy is still hefty at 3880. It’s a step down in quality but still a good wave. The real magic on Wednesday is the afternoon: the wind drops to glassy, absolutely dead calm from the NNE. The swell is still 10 feet with a 15-second period, and the energy is 3437. It’s clean, it’s glassy, and it’s still a big wave for experienced surfers.

Thursday, September 10th, the swell drops to about 7 feet, with a 15-second period. The energy is still a solid 2010-2113, but the wind is a bit messy in the morning (cross-shore from the NNE). The afternoon cleans up with a cross-off from the SSW.

Friday, September 11th, things start to go downhill. The wind goes cross-on from the NNW, and despite the swell hanging in at 10 feet, it’s choppy and messy. The morning is a write-off entirely.

Saturday, September 12th, and Sunday, September 13th, are a total write-off. Strong cross-onshore winds from the W and WNW, ripping into the swell. The combination of 10-13 feet SW/WSW swell and onshore winds makes this a mess. If you’re into kite surfing, the setup might be worth a look, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.

We get a brief window of clean conditions on Monday, September 14th, and Tuesday, September 15th. The swell drops to 10 feet on Monday and 8 feet on Tuesday, with a 14-second period. The wind is light and clean – glassy on Monday morning, and cross-off from the S for the rest. The energy is still in the 3000-2500 range, so there’s plenty of grunt. This is a good window for experienced surfers who want a clean wave without the crazy size of the first two days.

Then, from Wednesday, September 16th, through to the end of the 16-day window, it’s mostly a rough story. Strong onshore and cross-onshore winds dominate. The swell gets huge again, hitting 16-18 feet from the 17th to the 22nd, with energy readings going through the roof (over 14,000). The wind is howling from the NW, WSW, and SSW, making it raw and ugly. The morning of Saturday, September 19th, offers a clean cross-off wind from the SSW on a 10-foot swell, but the energy is still high at 4857. The afternoon of the 19th and the 20th are also clean, but the swell is too big for this break, with the data saying “the swell is predicted to be too big for this break.” That’s a rare warning.

So, to boil it down: the absolute best is Tuesday, September 8th, morning. Don’t miss it. The Monday morning, September 7th, is a close second. The glassy Wednesday afternoon, September 9th, is a special treat. The rest of the run is a mix of clean windows and rough, blown-out conditions, with some massive, unmanageable swell at the end.

Rusty.

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