Flagler Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get this straight. I've looked at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and to be honest, it’s a pretty flat and frustrating stretch for Flagler Pier. We’ve got a solid run of tiny, wind-affected waves that are going to have you staring at the horizon more than riding anything. Don't get too excited; this is a waiting game.

The water is sitting at about 80°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year. It’s noticeable, so you might want to grab the thicker spring suit for the dawn patrols.

The immediate outlook is grim. Through the coming days and into the weekend, we're looking at ankle-biters, mostly under 2ft, coming from the east with short, weak periods. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which is just adding chop and mess to an already poor situation. The energy is weak, with combined values sitting in the 20s-70s, which is just nothing to work with. It’s a lot of paddling for a knee-high dribble.

There is a slight pulse of energy mid-next week, around the 2nd and into the 3rd of September, where the swell bumps up to 3ft, and the period stretches out to 10-11 seconds, with the combined energy kicking up to 110 and 128. It’s still not clean, with the east wind keeping things a bit messy, but at least there's a bit more push to the water. It’s still not worth getting wet for if you’re picky.

The end of the first week and into the second week sees things taper right back off, with the swell dropping to 1ft or less. The wind does swing offshore at times, which will make the surface glassy and clean, but there’s literally nothing to ride. You’d be surfing whitewater on a calm lake.

The only time the surf report even mentions the word "surfable" is on the morning of Wednesday, September 9th. We finally get a little 1ft swell with an 11 second period and, more importantly, a glassy morning with light winds. It's clean, you can see the shape, but it's tiny. The energy is still weak at 81. This is a challenge, not a reward. But for a longboard and a patient mindset, it might be your only window for a slide.

After that, the following weekend and into the second week, it's more of the same—or worse. The wind is forecast to get wild, with a near gale cross-shore on Monday the 14th, and then a storm force offshore wind on the same afternoon. The swell is still barely there, but with 60 mph winds, it will be an absolute washing machine. That’s not surfing; that’s a survival test. The open beach setup is going to be a complete mess, and honestly, that looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So here’s the reality: there are no standouts in this entire 16-day window. The only day that gets a passing grade is Wednesday the 9th, and that’s a desperate call. It’s just one of those flat, blown-out runs that this coast sees from time to time. Keep the board in the car, but don’t take it out of the bag. Watch the forecasts, because it tends not to stay this poor for long.

Stay patient. Rusty out.

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