Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ at Rivermouth for the next couple of weeks. Gotta be honest, the first part of this run is a real heartbreaker.

Right off the bat, the water is a shocking 59°F, which is a staggering 9°F colder than usual for this time of year. That’s not just a little brisk; that’s a full-on polar plunge. Bring the thickest suit you’ve got.

The first real chance doesn’t come until Friday the 18th of September. Before that, we’re looking at a long stretch of nothing. From the 11th through the 17th, it’s just a parade of cross-onshore winds and sloppy conditions – all poor surf with scores to match. Monday the 14th delivers some size, with swell hitting 12 ft from the east, but the combined energy is massive (3609), and the call is it’s simply too big for this break. Not our day.

So, the true standout is that Friday morning, the 18th of September. It’s a little slice of perfection. The wind goes glassy – that’s a huge deal – coming from the WSW. The swell is a clean 4 ft from the southeast, with a moderate combined energy of (591). The report says conditions will be “very good.” The size is perfect for the beginners out there, and that glassy surface will make for some silky, long walls. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might not be totally alone.

Now, for the long-range look, things get promising but a little shaky. Into the third week of September, we see a pulse of long-period groundswell. On Saturday the 19th, a 6 ft swell from the SSW with a very long 14-second period arrives, packing a solid punch (1314). The wind is light and onshore early, which is a drag. That long period will make the waves fat and walled-up at a beach break, so you’d want a point or a reef for it to really shine. Saturday afternoon looks a bit more cross-on, and Sunday the 20th morning sees the swell drop to 3 ft but the period stays at a solid 11 seconds.

After that, from Monday the 21st through the 26th, it’s back to poor surf with moderate breezes and onshore junk. It’s a proper dry spell. The tail end shows some clean cross-off winds on the 23rd and 24th, but the combined energy is weak (116 to 199) with a short, gutless period of 6 seconds. If you’re into kite surfing, those strong cross-off breezes (up to 28 mph) on the 24th might be your thing, but for a paddle surfer, that’s a kite session for sure.

So, the word is: lock in the morning of the 18th. That’s the one. After that, we’re crossing our fingers. Forecasts can flip, but for now, that’s your best bet.

Rusty.

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