Right and Left Side Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up for Right and Left Side (Right-and-Left-Side).

This is a tricky forecast, folks. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, with small, weak swell and wind that’s just not cooperating. We’ve got a long gap of poor conditions kicking off the outlook. The window opens up mid-week with a bit of size, but it’s not until the following week that things get interesting.

Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st are a bust. We’re talking tiny waves with cross-onshore winds, making for crunchy, uninviting surf. The combined energy is weak, hovering around 97 to 375 (moderate at best), and the conditions just aren’t worth suiting up for.

Wednesday morning the 2nd is our first real glimmer of hope. The swell builds to 5 ft from the west, and the wind goes cross-offshore out of the NE. It’s clean, and the combined energy climbs to 441 (moderate). The period is a short 9 seconds, so it won’t be the most powerful, but it’s the best of the early run. The afternoon turns to junk again, so get out early.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Thursday the 3rd all the way through Monday the 7th, we’ve got strong winds from the SW and WSW, whipping up a messy cross-chop. The swell hangs around 3 ft to 7 ft but it’s all blown out, with combined energy jumping between 206 and 482. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. Best to leave the boards in the car.

Now, Tuesday the 8th of September. This is where things get serious. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the west, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is pumping at 1134 (strong!), and the offshore wind from the SSW keeps it clean. This is a big, powerful wave. At over 8 ft, this is expert territory only. It’s inconsistent though, so be patient between sets.

Wednesday the 9th holds similar size, with 10 ft from the west and a longer 11-second period, combined energy at 2070 (very strong). Again, clean in the morning with cross-offshore wind. This is the standout window for experienced surfers.

But the real highlight, the one to circle on the calendar, is Thursday morning the 10th of September. The swell is 8 ft from the west, with a 10-second period and combined energy of 1224 (strong). The wind is light and cross-offshore from the south, giving us glassy, clean conditions. The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the moment. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

After that, it gets ugly again. A big storm system moves in from the 11th onward, with gale-force winds and huge, messy swell up to 15 ft. Combined energy hits a massive 4957 on the 13th, but it’s all cross-shore and blown out. Even the clean windows on the 14th and 15th are for experts only, with 10 ft to 13 ft swell and long periods (13-14 seconds) that will be breaking straight at this reef setup. Not a beginner's game.

So, bottom line: if you can handle some size and are comfortable on a reef, the best bet is early on Wednesday the 2nd for a clean little wave, but the real gold is Thursday morning the 10th. That’s the one. For the rest, sit it out.

Rusty.

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