San Juan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty again, giving you the rundown on San Juan in feet and miles per hour.

These next two weeks are going to test your dedication. The pattern is locked in with onshore winds and mostly messy surf, so you’ll be waiting for a clean window.

Water temp is sitting at a warm 76°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be shivering.

From Saturday the 29th of August through the start of September, forget it. Swell is running 5 to 7 feet, sometimes bigger, but it’s hammered by a fresh NNE breeze blowing straight onshore at 22 mph. The wave energy is moderate—combined swell energy values between 306 and 595—but the wind is killing it. The period is short, 7 to 8 seconds, so the waves are weak and sloppy. Don’t bother. From Monday the 31st of August into Tuesday and Wednesday, the swell bumps up to around 8 feet, still onshore. That’s only for experts on a reef, and with the wind, it’s just a washing machine.

Thursday the 3rd of September sees a slight shift. Wind drops to 16 mph from the north, still cross-onshore, swell drops to 4 to 6 feet. Energy is weak, 332-364. Still a no-go.

Friday the 4th of September is the first day that’s even close. Wind goes light easterly at 6 mph, cross-shore, with just small ripples. Swell is 5 feet from the north at 8 seconds, energy at 222. This is a marginal day, a 1 out of 10. If you’re desperate, you might find a few lumpy ones.

Then we hit a dry spell from Saturday the 5th through the rest of the first week. More onshore winds, more poor surf. Wind from the north or NNE, 9 to 16 mph, mostly onshore or cross-onshore. Swell ranges from 2 feet to 8 feet, period stays short, 7 to 8 seconds. Combined energy is moderate at best (215 to 775). Crowds are possible at San Juan, but with conditions this bad, nobody is out.

Now, the only real standout in the whole 16-day window is Wednesday the 9th of September morning. Finally, a break in the wind. A light NNE breeze at just 6 mph, glassy enough to keep the surface clean. Swell is a solid 8 feet from the north-northeast, with an 8-second period. Combined energy is 891, which is moderate to strong. The call says wind and tide are favorable, but the swell might be too big for this break. For an expert reef, 8 feet is properly solid. It’s the only morning in the whole forecast where the wind isn’t a problem. The rest of that day goes back onshore and messy.

After that, Thursday the 10th through Sunday the 13th of September, it’s back to onshore winds and poor surf. Swell sizes vary from 3 feet to 8 feet, wind from the north or northeast at 9 to 16 mph. Sunday the 13th afternoon has a long-period swell from the west-northwest at 13 seconds, energy at 509, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. That’s a tease for the reef, but the wind ruins it.

So here it is: one morning, Wednesday the 9th of September, is your best bet. It’s big, it’s clean, and it’s for experts only. Every other day is a battle with the wind. Crowds are possible, but with conditions this poor, it won’t be busy.

That’s the truth for San Juan. Aim for that Wednesday window.

Rusty.

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