Flagler Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into what’s on the cards for Flagler Pier.

First up, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough outlook. The start of this stretch is real quiet. The water temp is sitting at 82°F, which is a bit colder than we'd expect for this time of year, so factor that into your wetsuit choice if you're heading out. From the very beginning through to the morning of Tuesday, September 16th, we are looking at a long, dry spell. For nearly two weeks, the surf is just not cooperating. The waves are tiny, the energy is weak, and the conditions are pretty much all "poor surf conditions". There’s a lot of cross-shore wind and chop out there, nothing that’s gonna get the heart pumping.

Tuesday Morning, September 1st kicks off flat with a 2ft easterly swell and a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 72 (weak), and with a northeast onshore breeze, it’s just messy. This same story plays out day after day. We get a few glimpses of glassy conditions, like on Saturday morning, September 5th, where the wind goes glassy out of the WSW at 3 mph, but the swell is down to a pathetic 1ft. It’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride. The period is short, so you’re just bobbing around.

The same pattern holds through the weekend and into the next week. Monday morning, September 7th is glassy again, but the swell is only 1.0ft. The energy is so low (19) it’s not worth paddling out for. The only real positive is that the wind is often light or glassy, which makes the water look like a mirror, but without any push from the ocean, it's just a swim.

Now, there is a bit of a flicker of life but it's not good news. The first real change comes on Wednesday morning, September 16th. The swell jumps up to 5ft from the ENE, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy hits 212 (moderate). But here’s the catch: the wind is onshore from the NNE at 6 mph, and the forecast calls it "marginal surf forecast". That north-east wind is just going to trash the shape. At 5ft, it’s not huge, but it’s enough to be a handful for beginners, and the onshore wind will make it lumpy. It’s a real shame, because that’s the only bit of energy we get in the whole 16 days.

To be honest, this stretch is a write-off for surfing. The breaks are quiet, the energy is weak, and the one day with a pulse is blown out. If you’re a local, you know Flagler Pier can be like this – it tends not to stay poor for long, and forecasts can change. But for now, I’d be taking a break. Wait for the next system.

Rusty

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