Jennette's Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me take a look at what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks. It’s a pretty bleak picture overall for Jennette’s Pier, so don’t expect to be out there scoring much. I’m only looking at this one spot, and honestly, it’s a struggle.

Right off the bat, the first recommendation we get is on Sunday, September 13th. The whole week before that is a write-off – Thursday the 10th through Saturday the 12th are all showing poor surf conditions, tiny weak swell, and messy winds. You’ll be sitting on the beach, not in the water.

So, the first day with anything considered surfable is Sunday morning, September 13th. We’re looking at a small 2 ft swell coming from the ESE with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is weak, only (72). The wind is offshore from the WSW at 12 mph, which is a positive and will keep things clean, but the main issue is the swell is just too small to get excited about. The report calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and I’ve got to agree. It’s a paddler’s workout for ankle-snappers. That afternoon, the wind shifts, and it goes back to poor.

After that, the next week is a total bust. From Monday the 14th through to the end of the following week, it’s all cross-on, onshore, or howling winds. We get a bit of a spike starting Friday, September 18th. The swell kicks up to 6 ft from the NNE, but the period is a short 6 seconds, and the wind is a cross-off from the WNW at 12 mph. The combined energy jumps to a moderate (279), but the quality is still marked as marginal, not good. The waves will be lumpy and lack any real shape.

The biggest swell of the window hits from Sunday, September 20th, through Tuesday, September 22nd. We see heights of 7 ft to 8 ft from the NNE and NE, with the combined energy skyrocketing into the strong range, hitting (967) on the morning of the 22nd. The period builds to 10 seconds on the 22nd, which is decent. The problem? The wind is howling onshore from the NE at 22-37 mph, turning it into a total mess. By Tuesday afternoon the 22nd, the wind finally goes cross-off from the NW at 16 mph, but the swell is still 7 ft. The report still only gives it a marginal rating and the combined energy is extreme at (1204). With those strong winds and big, raw conditions, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

By Wednesday the 23rd, the swell drops fast to 3 ft, and even though we get a glassy morning on the 23rd and offshore winds on the 24th, the swell is gone, and the energy is weak again. The last few days of the window are a blowout with near gale and severe gale force winds.

The water temp is sitting at 80° on the 10th, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year. Something to keep in mind if you decide to have a paddle anyway.

Honestly, there’s no standout day here. The best chance for something remotely rideable would be the Tuesday morning of September 22nd – you’ll have a 8 ft NE swell with a 10-second period and cross-off winds, but it’s a lot of water and the quality is marginal. Only for the experienced guys who don’t mind a challenge and some heavy current. Expect crowds to be possible at Jennette’s Pier whenever there’s any hint of a wave.

Rusty.

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