Pontal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s heading our way.

Honestly, mate, this is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, quiet stretch at Pontal. There’s really nothing worth paddling out for in the next week and a half. The first real sign of something borderline shows up on Tuesday, the 22nd of September, and even that is just a marginal call with questionable conditions.

Monday 14th to Monday 21st of September:
This is a full week of poor surf. We’ve got small, weak swell – mostly around 3 to 4 feet from the east or southeast, with energy levels barely scratching triple digits. The wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, or there are rain showers messing with the surface. Periods are short (6-8 seconds) so it’s just weak, junky windswell. Not a single standout session in here. Blank run for sure.

Tuesday 22nd of September:
Finally, a flicker of hope. Tuesday morning shows a 4-foot swell from the east, period 8 seconds, with a light easterly onshore breeze. The combined energy is 268 – that’s weak to moderate, but still nothing to get fired up about. The wave comment calls it “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” So, it’s a maybe, but don’t get your hopes up. The afternoon goes back to poor.

Wednesday 23rd of September:
Another marginal morning. Swell picks up a bit to 4 feet from the ESE with a period of 9 seconds, energy at 332. The wind is light and cross-onshore from the NE, so the surface might be okay, but the tide could be working against us. Still nothing consistent or clean enough to call a go.

Thursday 24th of September:
Thursday morning is the best of a bad bunch. We’ve got 5 feet from the ESE at 10 seconds – that’s a longer period, starting to have a little more push. Combined energy is 418, which is moderate. Wind is light and cross-on from the NE. Still only “marginal surf forecast,” but if you had to pick a time, this is the one. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

Friday 25th of September through Sunday 27th:
Another marginal morning on Friday with smaller 4-foot swell, then it’s back to poor conditions through the weekend with more cross-onshore winds and rain or t-storms. Swell size tries to bump up to 5 feet on Sunday, but the period drops to just 6 seconds and the wind turns gusty. No thanks.

Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th of September:
The very last days of the window are poor again. Monday has 5 feet from the ENE at 7 seconds – that’s short, weak, and onshore. Tuesday fades to 4 feet. Nothing to chase.

So, the one and only standout here is Thursday morning, 24th of September at Pontal. That’s the morning with the most grunt – 5 feet from the ESE, period 10 seconds, light cross-on wind, and the highest energy we see (418). It’s still only marginal, so keep your expectations in check. No other break in the data is better, because there are no other breaks listed. This is it.

For the rest of the forecast, it’s a quiet, frustrating period. With Pontal being a consistent break and a beginner-friendly spot, it’s a shame the swell and wind aren’t lining up. But hey, that’s the coast sometimes – things can change.

Rusty.

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