Delray Public Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Right, let’s be straight with you – the next 16 days for Delray Public Beach look like a long, flat stretch of nothing. We’re talking a proper drought of surf. The first week and a half barely has a ripple, and even when the swell bumps up a touch, the conditions are just not working. There’s a short window in the second week, but it’s not much to shout about.

It starts Monday the 7th of September, and the water is a warm 87° – a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is nice for a float, but not for a wave. The swell is a pathetic 0.7ft from the east with a weak 8-second period, and the combined wave energy is a measly 10 (weak energy). On Monday morning you’ve got a light cross-offshore breeze, but that’s no help when there’s nothing to ride. Monday afternoon turns choppy with a cross-onshore, and it’s all “poor surf conditions” across the board.

The whole first week is a write-off. Tuesday the 8th has a morning glass-off of 0.7ft, which would be cruel if there was any swell. Wednesday the 9th, the swell rises to 2ft from the north-northeast, but it’s blown straight onshore from the ESE at 9 mph, making it a messy, closed-out shorebreak. The combined energy creeps up to 64 (weak energy) on Wednesday morning, then 91 (weak energy) in the afternoon. Still poor. Thursday the 10th is the best of a bad lot, with 3ft from the northeast and 106 (moderate wave energy) on Thursday morning, but that onshore wind from the ESE at 9 mph ruins it. It’s the same story – messy, onshore, and not worth paddling out for.

After Thursday, the swell drops right back down. By the 11th of September, we’re back to 2ft with a short 7-second period, and the energy is just 39 (weak energy). The weekend of the 12th and 13th is even smaller, with a 0.7ft to 2ft mix of windswell and a period as low as 4 seconds. Seriously, it’s a lake.

Then there’s a gap of about three days with absolutely nothing. But hold on – the second week starts to show a little pulse. On Thursday the 17th of September, we get 3ft from the north-northeast with a 8-second period, and the combined energy hits 79 (weak energy). The wind is a light cross-off from the south at 6 mph, so there’s a chance of a small, clean-ish wave if you’re desperate. Friday the 18th of September morning is glassy with a 2ft from the north-northeast, and the energy is 47 (weak energy). Saturday the 19th of September morning is also glassy, with 2ft from the northeast – clean, but tiny. The best of the run is Monday the 21st of September, when the swell pumps up to 3ft from the northeast with a 7-second period, and the combined energy gets to 100 (moderate wave energy). But the wind is a cross-on from the SSE at 9 mph, making it choppy and weak. Tuesday the 22nd of September morning has 3ft from the northeast, but it’s blown onshore at 16 mph, so it’s just a lumpy, wind-affected mess.

So, what’s the verdict? There is no standout. The best on offer is Thursday the 10th of September morning with 3ft and 106 energy, but that onshore wind kills it. The other glimmer is Monday the 21st of September morning with 3ft and 100 energy, but again, cross-on wind. Neither is worth a proper session. For a beginner, the swell never goes over 5ft, so it’s not too big, but the quality is just not there. The short period of 7 or 8 seconds means the waves are weak and crumbly. There’s no groundswell on the cards.

To be honest, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, given the constant onshore and cross-onshore wind and the small, choppy waves. But for a surfer? It’s a blank run. The area is what it is – sometimes it goes flat for a stretch, and this is one of those times. The forecast can change, but right now, leave your board at home.

Rusty.

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