Flagler Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me break it down for you.

It’s a pretty quiet stretch here at Flagler Pier. For the better part of a week and a half, there’s just nothing doing. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly on it or side-on, and the ocean looks flat and bumpy. The first real sign of life doesn’t show up until the end of the month.

From Monday the 14th all the way through Thursday the 24th, it’s a bust. Swell heights are barely above 1-2 feet, coming from the east with short periods of 6-9 seconds. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, whipping up a choppy, bumpy mess. We get a couple of glassy mornings on the 20th, 22nd, and 23rd, but with zero swell, it’s just a flat, pretty lake. Combined wave energy is weak, mostly below 60. There’s zero reason to wet your wetsuit.

That’s a big gap – basically 11 days with no surf to speak of.

Now, the first flicker of hope comes on Friday the 25th of September. The morning goes glassy with a north-east swell around 4-5 feet. The period is short though, only 6 seconds, so the waves will be a bit fat and lacking punch. Combined energy hits 139 (moderate energy), and the call is “surfable but ordinary.” The afternoon turns messy with a cross-shore wind.

Saturday the 26th of September morning delivers the biggest swell of the outlook: a north-east pulse at 6 feet with an 8-second period. The combined energy jumps to 700 (moderate to strong). The wind is a cross-shore from the NNW at 12 mph, so expect some chop on the face. At 6 feet, this is pushing it for beginners, and the lumpy conditions will keep things interesting. The afternoon sees 5-6 feet with a light cross-onshore breeze, still not clean.

Sunday the 27th stays in the 5-6 foot range, but the wind is on it or side-on, and by the afternoon the period stretches out to 12 seconds. That long period groundswell can make Flagler Pier close out and get shifty. The energy is huge at 889, but the quality is poor.

Monday the 28th morning brings a very long period swell of 12 seconds at 5 feet, with combined energy at 1097 (strong). But the wind is on it from the NNE, keeping the surface bumpy. This is expert-only territory.

So, what’s the best of a bad bunch? Saturday the 26th morning has the most size, but don’t expect a clean, organized wave. Friday the 25th morning might be your best bet for a few glassy, small waves if you’re desperate. Overall, it’s a tough, lean outlook.

Rusty.

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