Molho Leste Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty, and let's have a look at what's on the cards for the local banks. Fair warning, folks – it's a long, frustrating wait for anything decent. We're looking at more than a week of tiny, messy, or just plain flat conditions before we finally get a sniff of something worth paddling out for.

The standout session, without a doubt, is the Monday morning of the 14th of September at Molho Leste. The swell will be a modest 3 ft, coming from the NW, but the real magic is that wind – a light breeze from the east-southeast, keeping it clean. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting at 115, so don't expect a lot of power, but it’ll be the most rideable wave we've seen in a while. It's a sandbar setup, so it can be a bit finicky, and since it's rated as "inconsistent," you'll have to be patient. The crowds are only "sometimes" an issue, so you might have a few waves to yourself if you're keen. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Before that, it's a tough slog. The first real chance of a surfable wave isn't until the 5th of September – Saturday morning – with a tiny 2 ft NW swell and a light offshore breeze. It's nothing to write home about, just "surfable but very ordinary." Sunday morning the 6th is similar. Then, things get a bit more interesting in terms of size, but the wind is a problem. On Monday the 7th, the swell jumps to 4 ft from the WNW with a 12-second period, giving a moderate energy of 451, but a strong cross-offshore wind of 25 km/h from the north is going to chop it up, blowing it out. The forecast keeps that wind howling for the next few days, making it a write-off.

For a couple of days after the 14th, it drops off to almost nothing again. The next glimmer comes on the 17th of September – Thursday morning – with a 2 ft WNW swell and glassy conditions. The combined energy is only 95, so it's more of a longboard glide than a performance wave, but the glassy surface is a treat. It's a long way out, but keep an eye on it.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a total write-off for any decent paddle-surfing. The best bet is to mark your calendar for the 14th of September for a clean, small wave at Molho Leste, or maybe the 17th if you're patient. If you're a kite surfer, the strong northerly winds on the 7th and 8th might look more interesting than the blown-out surf.

Rusty.

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