Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here with a look at the surf for the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.

We’re looking at Riviera for the whole run. The first real action comes on Sunday the 6th, but it’s not a pretty picture. We’ve got 5ft of south swell with a decent 13-second period, but the wind is a cross-off from the NNE at 12 mph, stirring up a bit of chop. The water is a toasty 74°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a real surprise. The combined energy is strong (1310), but the conditions are making it a tough one to love.

Monday the 7th morning is a bit better. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the SSW, still with a nice 13-second pulse. The wind swings to the WNW at 9 mph, putting it in a cross position. The energy is still strong (1098). It’s not clean, but it’s the better of the early options. By Monday afternoon, the wind picks up to 16 mph and turns cross-on, making it choppy and messy.

Tuesday the 8th sees the swell drop to 4ft, and the wind stays cross-on, so it’s not great.

Now, here’s the standout. Wednesday the 9th. It’s a small day, with the swell only 2ft to 2ft from the SW, but the period is a very long 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy. The wind goes glassy – absolute glass – from the WNW and WSW at just 3 mph. The combined energy is moderate (417 and 431). The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” For a small wave board or a longboard, this is the cleanest, most beautiful window in the entire forecast. If you can get out there, Wednesday morning and afternoon are the ones to aim for.

The rest of the first week and into the second week is a bit of a struggle. Thursday the 10th has some 3ft SW swell with a 17-second period, but the wind is cross-on or onshore, keeping it from being clean. From Friday the 11th all the way through to Sunday the 20th, the story is mostly small, weak swells with persistent cross-on winds from the south or west. The combined energy drops into the 200s and 300s, which is weak. There are a lot of “poor surf conditions” comments in there. The period stays long (14-20 seconds), but without the right wind, it’s just not worth paddling out for.

The bright spot in the second week is Monday the 21st. The swell picks back up to 4ft from the SW with a 17-second period, and the combined energy gets back up to moderate (698-784). The wind is light from the SW and W, with the morning being a clean onshore. It’s still not a classic, but it’s the best looking day after the 9th, especially if the wind holds light.

So, to sum it up: the absolute best on offer is Wednesday, September 9th. The swell is tiny, but the glassy conditions and long-period SW groundswell will make for some of the most fun, clean waves you’ll see all forecast. Don’t expect a big day, but expect a quality one. Beyond that, Monday the 21st is a promising option for a small, clean-ish wave, but it’s a long way out and the forecast could change. For the rest, it’s a lot of waiting.

Rusty.

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