Flatrock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Flatrock.

We’ve got a solid run of surf ahead, but it’s not all perfect. The pattern kicks off with a big, powerful SSW groundswell that’s going to be a handful for most of us. Water temp is about 60°F, which is pretty average for the season.

The first call is Thursday morning (September 10). We’re looking at a strong 10ft SSW swell with a long 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy (5110). This is expert territory, way over that 8ft mark. The wind is a fresh offshore from the east, so it’ll be clean. But with that size and period at a reef break, you need to be on your game. Friday (September 11) is a bit more manageable. The swell drops to 8ft, still from the SSW with a 15-second period. The morning has a moderate offshore breeze, so it’s clean, but still very solid. The standout here is actually Friday afternoon (September 11). The wind swings light SSE, making it clean, and the swell holds at 8ft (3062 energy). That’s the pick of the first few days – still a big wave for experienced surfers, but the conditions will be smooth.

Saturday and Sunday (September 12 & 13) drop in size a bit, down to around 5-6ft, but the wind starts to mess with us. Saturday afternoon goes cross-shore, and by Sunday we’ve got onshore wind. Not great. The energy is still moderate (1299 Sunday morning), but the quality drops. Monday (September 14) is similar, with onshore breezes and dropping swell. A bit of a lull in quality.

Then we get a second pulse. Tuesday morning (September 15) sees a jump back to 10ft SW swell with a 15-second period (4243 energy). Wind is cross-off from the ESE, so it stays clean. This is another one for the big-wave crew. It keeps pumping through Wednesday morning (September 16) – 10ft, 16-second period, strong offshore wind from the east, and a massive 4957 energy reading. Clean and powerful.

After that, things get a bit messy for a stretch. The wind turns cross-shore or onshore for several days, and the swell starts to drop. From Thursday (September 17) through to the following Sunday (September 20), it’s a mix of lumpy cross-shore chop and onshore slop. The energy drops from 1761 down to just 389 by Sunday afternoon. Not worth paddling out.

But hang on. Monday morning (September 21) offers a glimmer. A clean 6ft SW swell with light offshore ESE wind. It’s a much smaller, cleaner window. Then the real standout of the whole forecast appears: Tuesday afternoon (September 22). This is special. An 12ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy – completely calm. The energy is an enormous 9407. This is as good as it gets for expert surfers at Flatrock. Clean, powerful, long-period groundswell. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The following days (September 23-25) keep the big swell going, around 10-13ft, with mostly clean conditions, but the winds get a little more cross-off. Still, that Tuesday afternoon window is the absolute highlight.

In short, the first week has a few excellent, heavy days for experts. A bit of a flat spot mid-period, then a second week that builds to an absolutely epic Tuesday (September 22) with glassy conditions and serious power. After that, the size holds but the wind starts to turn again. If you’re an experienced surfer, you’ve got plenty to work with.

- Rusty

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