Flagler Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The outlook for Flagler Pier is a tough one to swallow. We’ve got a long stretch of pretty flat and messy conditions before a tiny window of something surfable shows up.

The story starts now and runs through the whole 16-day window, but there’s a real dry spell at the beginning. For the first nine days, from Sunday the 9th of August right through to the morning of Monday the 17th, it’s basically a write-off. The swell is tiny, usually under 2 feet, and it’s coming from the east with short periods of 6 to 8 seconds. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or cross-off, and the wave energy is weak, barely cracking 57 (44-57) for most of that time. The water is a warm 82°F, which is about 1°F cooler than average for this time of year, so that’s just normal.

The only break in the gloom is Flagler Pier (Flagler-Pier). It’s a beach and pier setup, exposed to the east, and it’s fairly consistent. The place can get crowded (crowds listed as “often”), so you’ll have company if it ever gets good.

The first real chance comes on Monday the 17th of August. The afternoon brings a bump in energy to 177 (moderate) with a 3-foot east-southeast swell at 9 seconds. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s not clean, but the energy is there. Then Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th of August are the true standouts of the whole forecast. Tuesday morning has glassy conditions with a 2-foot easterly swell at 9 seconds, energy of 54. Wednesday morning is also glassy with a 2-foot east swell at 9 seconds and energy of 69. The wind is calm, making conditions clean. The swell is small, but if you’re a longboarder or just want to get wet in clean water, this is the best on offer. The break is a beach/pier, and with such a short period, it won’t be a world-class wave, but at least it’s rideable.

Thursday the 20th of August has a bit more size, with a 2-foot easterly swell at 11 seconds and energy of 121 (moderate), but it’s a cross-off wind and there’s a risk of thunderstorms. The period is getting longer, which is good for shape, but it’s still not a big day.

After that, from the 21st of August onwards, it drops back into weak, small, and messy conditions again. The final week is a bit of a letdown. Saturday the 22nd of August has a glassy morning, but the swell is only 1 feet. The rest of the days are just small, onshore, and not worth the paddle.

So, for the real surfing, don’t plan on a big session. The best bet is the glassy mornings of Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th of August. If you’re a beginner, the swell is under 5 feet, so it’s okay for you, but it’s not a wave to write home about. If you’re an expert, you’ll be bored. For the rest of the time, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

Read more