Flagler Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a rough stretch ahead. The good news is, there’s a tiny window of something to work with early on, but you’ll be waiting a long time after that. The first few days are the only real chance to get a wave, and then it’s a long, dry spell of flatness and churned-up junk from Thursday morning, September 3rd, all the way through to the end of the forecast. We’re talking over a week of nothing worth paddling out for.

The one spot that’s on the radar is Flagler Pier. It’s a beach and pier setup, and it’s fairly consistent, but even that’s not saying much right now. The kick-off is Thursday morning, September 3rd. We’ve got a small east swell running at 3 ft with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at best (111). The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the east at 6 mph, so it’s not clean but it’s not howling either. It’s a tough call, but it’s the only wave in town.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is Saturday morning, September 5th. The swell drops right off to a tiny 1.0 ft, but the wind turns offshore from the southwest at 6 mph. It’ll be clean, but you’ll be fighting for dribbles. The energy is weak (20), so it’s more of a longboard or a funboard session. Crowds are likely at the pier any time there’s a ripple, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

After that, it’s a total bust. The next few days show nothing but tiny, weak swell with onshore or cross-shore winds. By Sunday, September 6th, the swell is down to 0.7 ft with barely any energy (7). That’s not surfing, that’s floating. We get a little bump of 2 ft on Tuesday, September 8th, with glassy conditions in the morning, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the energy is still low (42). It’s a tease.

For the rest of the run, through to September 18th, it’s all small, weak, and messy. There’s a few mornings with offshore or glassy winds, like on September 11th and September 15th, but the swell is so small (1 ft to 2 ft) and the energy is pathetic (as low as 27). You’d be better off going for a swim. The longer period swell (10 seconds) on September 13th is the only hint of something in the water, but it’s straight onshore and messy.

So, bottom line: if you’re desperate, Saturday morning, September 5th, is your best bet for the cleanest, tiniest waves. Otherwise, save your energy. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the persistent onshore winds and small, weak swell. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s bleak.

Rusty.

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