Rat Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, but this time in feet and knots.

Let’s be real – it’s a tough stretch. The first decent surf doesn’t roll in until Sunday, September 20th. That’s a 12-day dry spell of mostly small, choppy, or flat conditions. The combined energy is low for most of that time, sitting under 100 for the early days. Water temp is 73°, a full 7° warmer than normal – that’s a big anomaly, so you’ll be in shorts or a thin top.

The only break in the game is Rat Beach, a reef that’s inconsistent and only fires in a few windows. The standout is Monday morning, September 21st. We’ve got a clean 3ft swell from the SW, with a 17-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll have some grunt, but on a reef-beach setup, it might wall up a bit. The wind is light offshore from the SSE, so the surface will be glassy. Combined energy hits 394, which is solid moderate-to-strong. Crowds are possible, so expect company. Sunday the 20th morning is also good: 2ft from the SW, 19-second period, light offshore from the S, and clean. Energy at 325 – again, solid. Winds are cross-offshore, so the waves will be smooth.

The rest of the 16 days? Thursday the 10th morning has a tiny 2ft W swell, 6-second period, and offshore SE wind, but the energy is only 21 – it’s barely a ripple. That afternoon, the swell jumps to 3ft from the SW with 16-second period and 319 energy, but the wind is cross-shore, so it’s messy. From the 11th through the 19th, it’s small, short-period slop and cross-onshore chop – not worth it. The 22nd and 23rd bring small 2ft SW swells, but the winds are variable and the energy drops off.

So, bottom line: Sunday 20th and Monday 21st mornings are your best shots. The rest is a washout. Forecasts can change, but for now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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