Etang-Sale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what's coming down the line for us. We've got a run of surf ahead, so let's get into it.

The first proper swell shows up on Monday afternoon, the 14th of September, at Etang-Salé. This is a reef setup that needs a bit of respect, only for the advanced crew. We're looking at a solid 5ft SW groundswell with a period of 13 seconds, and the wind is set to be offshore from the SSE at 19 mph, so the face will be clean. The water’s sitting at 76°, which is a touch warmer than you'd expect for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate at best (886), and honestly, the conditions are described as marginal, so it’s a bit of a dodgy one to kick things off.

Tuesday morning the 15th gets a lot more interesting. The swell drops a hair to 5ft but the period jumps to a very long 18 seconds from the SSW. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy spikes right up (2240). Wind is a strong 25 mph offshore from the SE, so it’ll be clean, but paddling out will be a real workout. Tuesday afternoon looks slightly better with a 6ft, 17-second swell and a more manageable 16 mph offshore breeze. Still a bit hairy.

Now, the standout window. Wednesday the 16th is the real deal for experienced surfers. We’re getting a 10ft S swell with a 15-second period. That’s a lot of water moving. The combined energy is massive (4611 in the morning, 4032 in the afternoon). Offshore winds from the SE at 12 mph will keep it lined up and clean. This is big, powerful surf. If you’re not an expert, stay on the beach for this one.

Thursday the 17th is a treat. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7ft from the south, but the wind goes glassy in the morning – dead calm. That’s about as good as it gets for clean conditions. The period is 13 seconds, so there’s plenty of push. The combined energy is still solid (1476). This is the pick of the week for anyone who can handle a solid 6ft reef break.

The surf settles down from Friday the 18th through to Sunday the 21st, with clean, waist-to-chest high waves hanging around. Winds stay offshore or light, and the conditions look fun but not epic. Energy levels are moderate to strong (between 624 and 1115). A good run of consistent, user-friendly waves for the intermediate crew.

We hit a bit of a lull from Monday the 22nd of September onwards. The swell drops off, winds get messy and cross-onshore, and the conditions turn marginal for a few days. It picks up again on Wednesday the 23rd afternoon with a clean 4ft SSW swell, but it’s not the same power.

The next real highlight comes on Thursday the 24th afternoon. The swell jumps to 4ft from the SSW with a very long 16-second period, clean conditions, and the combined energy is strong (1161). A nice one for the end of the month.

Then Friday the 25th is another standout. The swell builds through the day, hitting 8ft by the afternoon from the SSW, period of 13 seconds, and a clean 16 mph offshore wind from the SSE. The energy is high (2039). This is another session for the experienced crew only – that size at a reef break with power is serious.

Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th hold some size, with 7ft to 7ft swell and offshore winds, but the conditions get a bit fresh with the wind speed, making it a battle. Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th see the swell fading, with some glassy conditions on the Tuesday morning offering a small, clean end to the run.

All in all, the standout here is clear. Wednesday the 16th of September is the big one for the experts, with that 10ft, long-period S swell and clean offshore wind. For the slightly smaller but glassy perfection, don't miss Thursday the 17th morning.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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