Ormond Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – this 16-day outlook for Ormond Beach Pier is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple worth getting wet for. The first real chance to even think about a surf comes right at the start, but it’s not much to write home about. There’s a big gap of nothing before we see any glimmer of hope.

Saturday 5th September kicks things off, but it’s a write-off. Tiny swell around 1ft from the east, with a short period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is a weak 20. On top of that, there’s a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-offshore wind. It’s just poor. The water temperature is sitting at 81°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – about 2°F off the mark. Not a shocker, but you’ll notice it.

We roll through the next few days, and it’s the same story. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday – all poor. Tiny waves, weak energy, and the wind is mostly cross or onshore, messing up what little surface there is. The swell doesn’t crack 2ft until Tuesday morning 8th September, when we get a glassy 2ft from the northeast (7 seconds). Combined energy is still only 49. It’s surfable, but just barely.

Wednesday 9th September sees the biggest swell of the whole period so far, hitting 3ft from the northeast with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy finally climbs to 114, which is moderate wave energy. But the wind is onshore in the morning and cross-onshore in the afternoon, so it’s choppy and messy. Still, a 3ft wave is better than nothing, but it’s not clean.

Thursday 10th September morning offers a brief moment of hope. Glassy conditions, 2ft from the east-northeast (7 seconds), combined energy 58. The surf report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s the best we’ve seen, but that’s not saying much. The afternoon dies again with onshore wind.

From Friday 11th September right through to Saturday 19th September, it’s a dead zone. Swell stays tiny, mostly under 2ft, with weak energy and poor conditions. Winds are cross or onshore, and there’s no real energy to work with. The period is short, so the waves are weak and crumbly.

Then, Sunday 20th September morning gives us a flicker. Glassy conditions again, 3ft from the east-northeast (7 seconds), combined energy 56. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s the standout of the whole outlook, but that’s a low bar. The afternoon turns choppy again.

To be honest, this is a tough stretch for Ormond Beach Pier. The spot is a beach/pier break, fairly consistent, exposed to the east-northeast, and it’s an intermediate wave. The optimum swell direction is from the northeast. The problem is, the swell is too small and the wind is too often on the wrong side. If you’re a kite surfer, the stronger afternoon breezes with a bit of chop might be more interesting than paddle surfing. But for the rest of us, it’s a waiting game. The good news is, this area tends to turn around, and forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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