Tengan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table.

Alright, let’s be straight with you – this forecast for the next 16 days is a tough one. We’re looking at Tengan, and honestly, the surf just isn’t cooperating. The whole run is marked as “poor surf conditions,” so there’s no standout window where everything lines up perfectly. We’ve got a few moments where the wind might clean up, but the swell and conditions never really click for a proper paddle session.

The water temp is sitting at 84°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year – nothing out of the ordinary there.

Right now, from the 13th of September, we’ve got tiny 1ft to 2ft swell coming from the east with a short, weak period of 8 to 14 seconds. The wind is cross-on or onshore, and the wave energy is low – only hitting between 78 and 114 (weak). It’s not worth suiting up for. This flat, choppy run continues right through the middle of the month.

We hit a bit of a spike around the 19th and 20th of September. The swell bumps up to 3ft to 6ft from the east, with a longer 16 to 17 second period, which is a proper groundswell. The energy jumps to 485, then 807, and even 1179 (strong) on the 20th morning – that’s serious energy. But the wind is howling from the north at 18 to 37 mph, creating a lumpy cross-chop. For a reef break like Tengan, that’s messy. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.

From the 21st, the swell switches direction to the NNW, but the period drops to 8-10 seconds and the wind goes nuts – we’re talking severe gales up to 50 mph. Swell heights hit 7ft to 7ft, which is expert territory, and the energy is still high (842 to 908). But with that wind, it’s just dangerous and ugly.

Then, from the 22nd into the 23rd, things finally clean up. The wind turns cross-off to offshore, and the waves drop to a more manageable 4ft to 7ft. On the 22nd morning, we’ve got a clean 7ft swell from the north with a 10-second period, and the energy is still pumping at 897. The wind is a severe gale cross-off, so it’s clean but howling. By the 23rd morning, we’ve got 4ft from the NNE, offshore wind from the WNW at 25 mph, and the wave comment says “clean.” The energy is 361 (moderate). This is the best of a bad bunch, but that offshore wind is strong – it’ll be hard to paddle into.

After that, it fades. By the 24th, we’re down to 4ft to 4ft from the north, with a short 8-second period, and the energy drops to 262 (moderate). It stays clean, but it’s weak. By the 25th and 26th, we’re back to 2ft to 3ft, lumpy cross-shore winds, and energy in the 80s and 90s (weak). A few small clean waves on the 26th afternoon and 27th morning, with 3ft from the east at 12 seconds, but the wind is back on it.

So, the honest truth: there are no true standouts here. If you’re desperate, the cleanest and most powerful window is the 22nd and 23rd of September, but you’ll need to be an expert and ready for wild wind. Tengan is an inconsistent reef break anyway, so a blank run like this isn’t totally out of character. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the board at home.

Rusty.

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