Surf City Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s in store. Honestly, it’s a rough patch ahead for our area. For the next week and a half, it’s mostly small, weak, and messy. There’s a bigger pulse around the second week of September, but it comes with its own headaches. Right now, it’s all about picking the cleanest windows, not the biggest waves.

Starting at Surf City Pier, we’re in a flat spell right off the bat. The water temp is about normal for this time of year. Sunday the 30th offers tiny 1ft swell from the ESE with a short 8-second period and weak energy (29). The morning is glassy though, so if you’re desperate, a longboard might get you over some knee-high bumps. The whole first week is a bust. Swell heights mostly stay under 3ft with short periods, and combined energy is mostly in the weak 2-digit range. Winds are a mixed bag—some glassy mornings, but often crossing or cross-onshore, making things choppy. There’s a long stretch of days where the surf just isn't worth it.

Now, around Wednesday, September 9th, things get interesting, but it’s not a gift. The morning shows a 4ft swell from the SW with a period of 6 seconds and moderate energy (256). The wind is a light, clean cross-offshore from the WSW, which will smooth things out. This is the first standout of the whole 16 days. It’s not huge, but it’s the most push we’ve seen. However, that short period means the waves won’t have much punch or shape. The afternoon of September 10th jumps to 6ft from the SSW with a 7-second period and strong energy (309). That size is getting into expert-only for a beach break, and the wind, while still cross-off, is blowing at 12 mph. It’s going to be a bit of a mess, and with that short period, it could be a washing machine. The smarter call is the morning of the 9th for something you can actually paddle into.

The morning of September 11th offers a smaller 3ft pulse from the S with an 8-second period and moderate energy (109). The wind turns offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, which is the cleanest wind we see for any of the bigger days. That’s the best combo of size, direction, and wind in the whole outlook – a real glassy morning with some proper little waves. For the rest of the second week, it drops right back off into tiny, flat conditions.

To wrap it up: for the next week, leave the board at home. The standout is the morning of Wednesday, September 9th for a clean 4ft wave, but keep your expectations in check given the short period. If you can hold out, the offshore morning of Friday, September 11th with 3ft swell might be the most fun, cleanest session of the lot. This stretch is a real test of patience.

Rusty.

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