Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s see what we’ve got coming down the pipe at Strand (Pipe). No other spots in this forecast, so we’re dialing into this one break.

The first few days are a write-off. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are blowing hard from the ESE, pushing messy, short-period windswell in the 7 to 8 ft range. It’s not clean enough to get excited about, even with offshore wind, because the period is so short (7-9 seconds) and the wave energy is moderate to strong (905-584). The water temp is 59°, which is about a degree and a half cooler than usual for this time of year—nothing crazy, but you’ll feel it.

Things start to get interesting by Sunday morning, September 6th. We’ve got a solid 6 ft SSW groundswell blasting in with an 18-second period and a massive energy reading of 2080. That’s a proper long-period groundswell. The wind is light offshore from the east at 9 mph. This is the first standout. It’s a classic “excellent for experienced surfers” call—over 5 ft and this long period can make it a bit too much for beginners, and at a beach-and-reef setup like Strand, it might break a little straight. But for those who know what they’re doing, the shape and power will be top-notch. Expect good, clean, pulsing sets. The light offshore breeze will have it looking like a postcard.

Sunday afternoon holds up nicely too with 5 ft SSW swell and a 16-second period, but the wind goes even lighter. That morning session is the real highlight of this first week.

By Monday the 7th, the swell drops fast. The rest of that week (through to around Friday the 11th) is a mixed bag of small, short-period leftovers and messy cross-winds. There’s a brief pulse on Thursday the 10th with 5 ft SW swell at 15 seconds, but the cross-winds kill the quality. Not worth rushing out for.

Now, a big window opens up. Starting Saturday the 12th of September, we get a solid run of surf through to the end of the 16-day window. The standout in this second week is definitely Saturday morning, September 12th. You’re looking at 7 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and a very strong energy reading of 2141. The wind is offshore from the ESE at 12 mph. That’s a serious swell with clean conditions. It is over 7 ft, so definitely for experienced surfers only. The energy is pumping.

Then, on Tuesday the 15th, another excellent morning session with 6 ft SSW groundswell at 14 seconds, light offshore ESE winds at 6 mph, and energy at 1506. That’s clean and powerful but a touch more manageable.

Mark your calendars for Friday the 18th of September. This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the whole forecast. We’re talking 10 ft S swell with a 13-second period and a massive energy reading of 4031. The wind is light offshore from the SE at 6 mph. This one has “excellent for experienced surfers” written all over it. This is big, strong, and clean. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but if you’ve got the chops, this could be the session of the month. Keep in mind, this is over two weeks away, so we keep an eye on it, but the ingredients look wild.

A few days later, on Saturday the 19th, it’s still rideable with 6 ft SSE swell, but the wind shifts onshore, so the quality drops.

Overall, if you can wait, the standout is Sunday the 6th for the first week, and Saturday the 12th or Friday the 18th for the massive, clean power in the second week. Crowds at Strand are listed as “sometimes,” so expect company on the best days, but it won’t be a circus.

Rusty.

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