Surf Forecasts:
Pensacola Beach surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 4s period, SW swell with 8 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pensacola Beach this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Pensacola Beach in the next 16 days are 0.5m 4s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pensacola Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get this straight. I’ve looked at the charts for Pensacola Beach through the 21st, and I’ve got to be honest with you – it’s a tough stretch. If you’re after the kind of surf that gets you out of bed before dawn, you might be hitting the snooze button for a while.
The whole period is pinned by an almost complete lack of any real swell energy. We’re looking at ultra-weak, short-period windslop for the most part. The water temp is sitting at a balmy 87°, which is nearly 4° warmer than usual for early September. That’s noticeable – feels like a warm bath out there.
Right off the bat, Sunday the 6th is a non-event. No swell, just soft breezes. It stays flat and poor. Monday the 7th sees a tiny pulse of 1ft SW swell with a short 4-second period. It’s glassy in the morning, but there’s nothing behind it. That’s a skimboard wave, not a surfboard wave.
From Tuesday the 8th all the way through Saturday the 13th, the swell stays pathetic. We’re talking ankle to knee-high, with periods of 3 to 5 seconds. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore, making it messy. There is a brief window on Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th with a north wind that cleans things up, but the swell is still only knee-high from the S/SSE. It might look pretty and glassy, but you’ll be doing more floating than surfing.
Then we hit the final stretch. Sunday the 20th is a write-off with fresh, strong E/ENE winds and a stormy vibe. Your best chance, and I mean the only real noteworthy window, appears on Monday the 21st. The wind goes NE, which is cross-offshore for this spot, cleaning up the surface. The swell is still modest at knee-high, but it’s from the S with a slightly longer period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to a moderate level in the afternoon. It’s the most organized it’s been all week, but it’s still only a small dribble for the most part.
So, let’s be real. There are no standout days here. The only thing worth bringing a board for is that Monday morning session on the 21st, and even then, you’re looking for the inside reform on the sandbar. If you can't paddle, you might find a kite or a foil more fun on the windy days, but for a pure surf outlook, this is the definition of a flat spell.
It’s been poor for a while and it can change, but this forecast shows nothing to get excited about. Keep the board in the car, but maybe have the wax ready for a better run of luck.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Mon afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 28°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 3 | E 3 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | E 4 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:02AM0.57m | 9:59AM0.55m | 10:53AM0.50m | 11:46AM0.44m | 00:02AM0.24m | 12:47PM0.37m | 11:54PM0.31m | 2:40PM0.30m | 00:19AM0.37m | ||||||||||||
Low Tide | 6:46PM0.02m | 7:42PM0.06m | 8:34PM0.11m | 9:18PM0.17m | 9:44PM0.24m | 8:53PM0.30m | 6:27AM0.25m | 3:50PM0.30m | |||||||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | 10 | 10 | — | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 11 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 31 | 35 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 4 | WSW 4 | — | — | — | — | E 4 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | S 8 | S 6 | — | — | SSW 4 | SE 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 6 | SE 5 | — | S 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 3 | — | SW 4 | SW 3 | E 3 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | — | SSW 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | — | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1080 | 1081 | 1080 | 1080 | 1081 | 626 | 1191 | 825 | 825 | 825 | 2109 | 626 | 552 | 1151 | 551 | 626 | 1570 | 874 | 1068 | 874 | 574 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gulf Coast, Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pensacola Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pensacola Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pensacola Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pensacola Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Pensacola Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Pensacola Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Pensacola Beach is 11 km (7 miles) from the city of East Pensacola Heights. If you plan a vacation in Gulf Coast, Florida, look for hotels and other accommodation in East Pensacola Heights. East Pensacola Heights has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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