Flagler Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk Flagler Pier. It’s the only game in town, and right now it’s a tough one. The water’s about 85°, which is a little warmer than the usual for this time of year – nothing crazy, but you’ll feel it’s a bit muggy.

We’re looking at a real flat spell starting out. From Wednesday afternoon, August 19th, right through the end of the month, the swell is tiny – mostly 0.7ft to 1ft from the east-southeast and east, with weak energy (between 15 and 54 on the scale). The wind is often offshore or glassy in the mornings, which would be perfect for clean conditions, but there’s just no push. The afternoons get a little breeze, usually cross or cross-onshore, and the surf stays flat. This is a long dry spell – over a week of nothing worth paddling for.

Finally, the morning of Friday, August 28th, shows a slight bump. The swell is still only 2ft from the east, with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy creeps to 58 – still weak. It’s a light offshore wind from the southwest, so the surface will be clean. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," which is about as honest as it gets. The same pattern carries through Saturday, August 29th, and into Sunday morning, August 30th. On Sunday morning, the swell period jumps to 13 seconds, with energy up to 79, and glassy conditions. That’s the best-looking window in the whole forecast – small, but you might find a clean little bank if you’re patient.

Looking into early September, there’s a bit more energy. By Tuesday morning, September 1st, the swell is still 2ft from the east, but the period is 13 seconds and the combined energy hits 121 – moderate now. The wind is glassy from the northeast. It’s a promising setup, but it’s still small. And it’s over a week away, so treat it as a maybe. Wednesday, September 2nd, bumps up slightly to 2ft from the east, with an 11-second period and energy of 144, but the wind turns onshore from the east-northeast, so it’s not going to be clean. Thursday morning, September 3rd, drops back to 2ft with glassy conditions, but it’s back to ordinary.

Bottom line: there’s no standout day here. The best bet is the early morning of Sunday, August 30th, or maybe Tuesday, September 1st morning, if you’re willing to gamble on a very small, clean swell. Flagler Pier is fairly consistent, so it’s not a total dead zone, but for the next two weeks, keep your expectations low.

Rusty.

Read more