Panoramas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on the radar for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, it’s looking pretty skinny for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a consistent backdrop of small NW swell, but the wind is the real spoiler most days. There are a few windows where things clean up, but overall, this isn't a period to get your hopes up too high. The first real chance of anything worthwhile doesn’t come until the very end of the second week.

Let’s start with Panoramas (beach and reef). We kick off Tuesday morning, September 15, with a tiny 2ft NW groundswell (11 sec period) and glassy conditions. It’s surfable, but the combined energy is low at 69, so you’ll be hunting for the little ones. That glassy wind is a nice touch, but the size is just not there. Tuesday afternoon the wind swings cross-on and it gets choppy – not worth your time.

Wednesday September 16 morning is a no-go with cross-shore wind, and by the afternoon, a strong 25 mph cross-shore wind whips up a messy 5ft chop. That’s a pass.

Thursday morning September 17 sees the swell bump up to 3ft with a moderate wave energy of 145, and we get another brief glassy window. Again, small but clean. By Thursday afternoon, the cross-on wind kills it.

Friday and Saturday mornings (September 18 and 19) both offer glassy starts with 3ft and 3ft swells respectively, and energy in the moderate range. These are the most consistent and cleanest options in the first week, but they’re nothing to write home about – just small, clean fun for a longboard or a log. The afternoons all go to chop.

Then we hit a real dry spell. From Saturday afternoon September 20 all the way through to Monday morning September 28, there are zero surfable windows. The combined energy drops into the weak range, and every time the wind looks good, the swell is tiny, or the wind is messy. September 24 Thursday afternoon is the only exception – a 2ft NW swell with a 14-second period and a gentle offshore wind from the NE, giving us clean waves. But at 2ft, it’s still marginal.

The only true standout in this whole outlook is Tuesday morning, September 30. That’s the date to circle. We’ve got a 4ft NW swell rolling in, combined energy hitting 167 (moderate), and a light onshore wind that should keep it clean enough. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it won’t have the grunt of a groundswell, but it’s the biggest, most consistent option in the entire 16-day run. For surfers who can handle a little chop, this is your best bet. Because the swell is over 3ft but under 8ft, it’s fine for intermediates and above. Beginners might find it a bit punchy.

Water temps are about average for this time of year, no big anomalies to report, so you won’t need a winter hood for that Tuesday morning session.

To sum it up: the first week has a few small, clean morning windows but nothing exciting. The second week is a desert until that Tuesday the 30th. If you’re flexible, wait for that last Tuesday morning. It’s not epic, but it’s the best of a mediocre bunch.

Rusty, signing off.

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