Inch Reefs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. This is a classic tale of "too much of a good thing" for Inch Reefs over the next couple of weeks. We're looking at a serious run of big, powerful swell, but for this exposed south-west facing point break, that means it's going to be mostly for the big-wave chargers only.

The first proper swell hits Monday, September 7th. The morning shows a solid 10 ft from the WSW, with a period of 10 seconds. That's a lot of energy heading our way, about 1789 on the combined scale. The wind is onshore from the SW at 12 mph, so the surface will be a bit bumpy. Water temp is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Honestly, for a spot like Inch Reefs, 10 ft is already pushing into dangerous territory for most of us. The afternoon drops a bit to 8 ft, but the wind picks up and conditions get marginal.

The middle of the week is a write-off. Tuesday and Wednesday (8th and 9th) are flat, with barely a ripple, so you can leave the boards at home. There's a gap of a few days with no real surf on offer.

Then things get going again, but it's still big. Thursday the 10th has an 8 ft swell in the morning, but with a cross-onshore wind from the south at 12 mph, it's going to be choppy and messy. The energy is still high at 1114. Friday the 11th is a bit better, with a 6 ft swell, lighter winds from the west, and a bit of cross-on chop. It's surfable, but not the clean, lined-up waves we dream about.

The real standout, if you have the skill and the nerve, is Monday, September 14th. The morning shows 8 ft from the WSW with onshore wind, but the afternoon has a 8 ft swell from the west with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is up at 1010. The wind is cross-onshore from the west, but it's the best wave size for the setup. It's still heavy, but this is likely the best window for the experienced crew. It's still expert-only territory though, as anything over 8 ft at this break is no joke.

After that, it goes flat again Tuesday the 15th before we get a few more pulses. Wednesday the 16th has a tiny 4 ft swell, but the afternoon goes glassy with a WSW wind at 3 mph. That's clean, but the waves are small and weak with a short 5-second period.

The next big push arrives Thursday, September 17th. The afternoon is looking at a solid 10 ft from the west with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 1586. The wind is cross-shore from the SE at 12 mph. This is a massive swell, and like the Monday, it's really only for the big-wave specialists. The early part of the second week has that promise, but it's still a long way off, so don't get too set on it.

By the weekend of the 19th and 20th, it gets even bigger. Saturday the 19th has an 12 ft swell from the west, with a 10 to 11-second period and combined energy readings of 2482 and 3188. That is a lot of water moving around. This is too big for everyone except the absolute elite.

Finally, the last few days of the outlook, Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd, see the swell drop right off. Monday morning has a clean 3 ft swell from the west with a light offshore breeze from the NNE. That's small but clean, a good sign for a fun little session if you're not expecting much.

The truth is, for the next 16 days, there isn't a single day that stands out as perfect for the average surfer. The best bet is Monday the 14th for the advanced crowd, or perhaps the small glassy window on the 16th if you just want to get wet. It's a period of "go big or go home," and for most of us, that means waiting for the next swell that actually fits the break.

Rusty.

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