Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The next 16 days are a mixed bag for Riviera – a bit of a slow start, then a short window of hope, followed by a long, frustrating lull. We’ve got a few moments to keep an eye on, but don’t get too excited just yet.

The first real chance of a wave is on Saturday, September 5th. It’s not going to be pretty—cross-on wind from the WNW at 9 mph is making things choppy. The swell is 4 ft from the SW with a very long period of 16 seconds, which is a classic groundswell. The energy is strong (1227), but the wind is ruining it for paddle surfing. Water temp is 74°, which is over 7° warmer than normal—very unusual for this time of year. We’re looking at a marginal surf forecast and questionable tide conditions. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Sunday, September 6th is the real standout. The morning session is the best on offer. We’ve got a 6 ft swell from the S, with a nice 14-second period, and the wind is N at 9 mph, blowing cross-offshore. That’s clean surf, folks. The wave energy is strong (1270). The afternoon is still okay with 5 ft from the S, but the wind goes light cross-shore, so it’s not as clean. This is the session to circle.

Monday, September 7th is a drop-off. The swell is 6 ft from the SSW, but the wind is on it—WNW at 9 to 12 mph, making it choppy and messy. It’s too big for beginners, and the quality is poor. Tuesday, September 8th is even worse as the swell drops and the wind stays messy.

Then, from Wednesday, September 9th, the wheels fall off. The swell bottoms out to 2 ft to 3 ft, and the wind shifts onshore from the SW. The period is still long (16–17 seconds), but there’s hardly any energy (under 700). The surf is marginal or poor. This trend continues through the week, with waves barely hitting 2 ft and the wind staying onshore or cross-onshore. By the second week—from September 11th through the 20th—it’s mostly tiny, weak, and poor. The swell direction wobbles between SW and W, but the period drops to 8 seconds on the 13th and 14th, which is just rubbish. The energy is weak (under 400). Honestly, it’s a blank run. For a spot like Riviera, this kind of long gap is more normal than not.

The only real standout is Sunday morning, September 6th. That’s your window. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off for paddle surfing. If you’re a kiter, you might get some fun on the 5th, but for the rest of us, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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