Icelands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Icelands.

The 16-day window kicks off with a bit of a slow start. The first few days are pretty marginal – Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th are a bit of a write-off. The swell is coming through from the SSW, but the winds are cross-offshore and moderate, so it’s not doing us any favours. The combined energy is moderate (504 up to 1250), but the surf quality is just not there. It’s a bit of a waiting game.

The real action starts to build from Tuesday the 8th. We’ve got a very long period groundswell from the S and SSW rolling in, with periods of 15 to 20 seconds. That long period means better shaped waves, but it’s a reef break, so the long-period energy will focus up nicely. The combined energy is strong (1239 to 1406), and we’re looking at clean conditions with light to gentle breezes. The water temp is about average for this time of year. This is a good stretch for experienced surfers, with swell sizes hanging around 4.3 ft to 5.9 ft.

Now, the standout. The absolute pick of the entire outlook is the morning of Friday the 11th of September. The swell is 4.9 ft from the SSW with a period of 15 seconds, the combined energy is very strong (1456), and the wind is glassy. No wind at all. That’s a rare, beautiful thing. The surf will be clean as a whistle. For a reef break, that’s magic. Expect some solid, well-shaped waves. Crowds are often a thing here, so get there early.

The building swell continues through the second week. Saturday the 12th sees a big jump in combined energy (2079 to 3104) with a SSW-SW swell, but the afternoon gets a bit of a cross-shore wind, so it’s not as clean. The mornings continue to be the best call. By Sunday the 13th, the swell is pushing 7.2 ft from the SW. That’s getting into expert territory. It’s powerful, and the long period (16-17 seconds) will make it very focused. This is not for the faint-hearted.

Monday the 14th morning is another glassy session with 5.2 ft from the SW. Then we see a slight drop, but the energy stays solid. The very end of the window, Thursday the 17th of September morning, is a real gem. The wind is calm, glassy conditions, with a 4.3 ft SSW swell at a long 18 seconds. The combined energy is very strong (1947). It’s a smaller, cleaner window for the experienced crew.

Overall, it’s a solid run for Icelands. The first few days are a bust, but from the 8th onwards, early mornings are your friend. The glassy days on the 11th and the 17th are the true standouts. Go get it.

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