Daytona Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a seat. Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this outlook for Daytona Beach is a tough one. We’ve got a solid 16-day window in front of us, but don’t go getting your hopes up just yet. The surf is going to be a real struggle for most of it. For the next several days, we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing, with tiny, weak waves and poor conditions dominating the picture. There is a brief flicker of something rideable, but it’s a short window. Let's break it down.

We start off on Sunday, September 6th, with nothing to write home about. Waves are a pathetic 0.7 ft on Sunday morning, coming from the east with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 8, which is about as weak as it gets. The wind is a light cross-offshore in the morning, which keeps it clean, but there’s just no power. Sunday afternoon gets a little more wind and a little more chop, but still not worth paddling out for. Monday, September 7th, is more of the same—tiny 1.0 ft waves and a cross-offshore breeze that keeps the surface clean but doesn't do anything for the size. The water temp is 82°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so you might want a spring suit if you're heading out.

Tuesday, September 8th, sees a slight bump in size, with 3 ft waves in the morning from the ENE, but the period drops to a terrible 6 seconds, making for a weak, choppy mess. The combined energy creeps up to 81, but it’s still weak, and the onshore wind is not helping. Wednesday, September 9th, offers a touch more size at 4 ft from the NE, with a period of 8 seconds and energy hitting 172—that’s moderate energy, finally. But the wind is cross-onshore, and the conditions are described as poor. Not great, but if you’re desperate, this might be your best shot in the first week. The morning is clear, so it's not all bad.

Thursday, September 10th, is the one day that might just deliver something half-decent. The morning shows 3 ft from the ENE, with a period of 8 seconds and moderate energy at 103. But the real story is the wind: it's glassy. Absolutely dead calm. That’s a huge positive for a break that’s already exposed to the east swell. The wave comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," which is basically saying you’ll get some rides, but don’t expect any quality. This is the standout of the whole outlook. It’s the only day that gets a score above zero, and it’s only a 1 out of 10, but for Daytona Beach right now, that’s as good as it gets.

After Thursday, it’s back to the same old story. From Friday, September 11th, all the way through to Monday, September 21st, the swell is tiny, the period is short, and the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore. The energy values are mostly in the teens and twenties, which is about as weak as it gets. There are a few mornings with glassy conditions, like on September 11th, 12th, and 13th, but with waves barely reaching 1 ft, you’d be better off swimming than surfing. The long-range stuff into the second week is just more of the same—no real size, no real power, and poor conditions.

So, the bottom line? The only real window for a paddle is Thursday morning, September 10th, with the glassy conditions and a bit of energy. It’s not going to be a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got. For the rest of the 16 days, you’re better off finding something else to do. The waves are just too small and weak for any kind of proper session. This is a blank run for sure. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a tough one.

Rusty.

Read more