Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about Strand (Pipe). It’s a beach and reef setup, open to the SW swell, and it’s been a real mixed bag lately. The water’s at 56°, which is a good 4° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s a real shock to the system, so you’ll need a thick suit.

We’ve got a slow start, with a tiny 2ft SW swell on Tuesday afternoon, only 205 combined energy (weak), and a light cross breeze. It’s surfable but nothing to get excited about. Wednesday’s even worse – poor conditions, onshore vibes, just leave it.

Thursday the 10th sees a bump up to 5ft SW, with a 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 927 (moderate). The wind is cross, so it’s a bit chopped, but that’s a solid groundswell. It’s still marginal though, so keep your expectations low.

Friday morning the 11th cleans up with a cross-off breeze and 3ft SW, period of 12 seconds, energy at 384 (moderate). It’s clean, but small. The afternoon gets messy with a short-period 6ft S swell, only 7 seconds and 525 energy – that’s a windswell, and it’s blown out by 15 mph winds. Not great.

Saturday the 12th has a chunky 4ft SW in the morning, 14-second period, but the energy is strong at 1115 (moderate). The afternoon brings 5ft SSW, 16 seconds, and a massive 2192 energy (strong). The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but the tide or something’s making it marginal. It’s a good wave for intermediates, but too big for beginners.

Now, Sunday the 13th – that’s a standout. Glassy conditions in the morning, 4ft SSW, 14-second period, and 1008 energy (moderate). The wind is glassy, absolutely perfect. This is the best you’ll see for a while. The afternoon gets a bit weird with an 8ft SE swell, 10 seconds, and 2066 energy (strong), but it’s cross-shore and a bit lumpy. The morning is the time.

Then we hit a dead zone. Monday the 14th through Tuesday the 15th are poor – onshore winds, lumpy, no quality. Wednesday the 16th morning picks up again with a 7ft SW, 15 seconds, and 2858 energy (strong). Cross-off wind, clean, but it’s big – only for experienced surfers. The afternoon is similar but smaller.

Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th are clean with cross-off winds, but the swell hangs around 4ft to 5ft, moderate energy. Friday afternoon actually gets offshore wind, 5ft SW, 13 seconds, and 692 energy – that’s clean and fun, a good session for intermediates.

Saturday the 19th is glassy again in the morning, 4ft SW, 12 seconds, 388 energy – small but clean. A nice mellow session.

But the real highlight is Monday the 21st of September. Morning: 8ft SSW, 17 seconds, and a massive 4556 energy (very strong). Offshore wind, clean. This is a serious groundswell, very long period, so it’ll be powerful and perfect for the reef setup. Afternoon is similar at 8ft, 16 seconds, 3232 energy. This is the best of the whole run – for experts only, no beginners. The crowd is sometimes around, so you might have a few out, but with that size, it’ll be worth it.

After that, Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd go downhill fast – onshore winds, lumpy, messy. Wednesday the 23rd morning has a 12ft WSW, but it’s cross-on and choppy, just a washing machine.

So, the standout is Sunday the 13th morning for the glassy, clean conditions, and Monday the 21st for the big, powerful groundswell.

Rusty.

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