Tengan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight – the next two weeks at Tengan are a bit of a tough watch. This is a reef break that’s inconsistent at the best of times, and right now there’s a long, long gap of nothing worth paddling out for. The first sign of anything rideable doesn’t show up until Saturday the 20th of September, so there’s a solid week of flat or junky conditions before that.

Right now, through the start of the period, it’s all weak, onshore wind, and tiny – mostly 1 foot to 2 feet with short period slop. The combined wave energy is pitiful – values in the low double digits and triple digits under 150 (like 104 down to just 14). Wind’s blowing from the ESE or ENE, straight on or cross-onshore, and the water temp is sitting at 83°, which is about average for this time of year. But it’s all poor surf, no two ways about it. Even the reef can’t save this.

Moving through the week, there’s no real improvement. Tuesday the 16th through Friday the 19th stays small and messy – 2 feet to 2 feet, short period, combined energy still mostly under 100 or barely over 100. Wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, often moderate, with some lumpy chop. Not a single standout in there. Just flat waiting.

Then we hit Saturday the 20th of September – and here’s where the energy finally shows up. Swell jumps to 7 feet from the east, with a 15-second period. That’s proper groundswell. Combined energy rockets to 1989 – that’s strong, deep ocean energy. BUT – wind is ripping from the north at 31 mph, cross-shore. That’s near gale. For Tengan, a reef break, that much wind will make it a wild, blown-out mess. This one’s for experts only if they’ve got the nerve, and honestly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing in those conditions.

Sunday the 21st of September stays heavy: 6 feet from the north, 10-second period, combined energy 686, but again wind is screaming – 43 mph from the SSW, cross-off. That cross-off wind cleans it up, but 43 mph is gale territory. Ripping current, gnarly paddle out. Not a fun one for most.

Monday the 22nd of September drops a bit: 6 feet from the north, period 10 seconds, combined energy 573, but still gale-force SSW wind at 40 mph, cross-off. Clean but terrifying.

After that, the swell winds down. Tuesday the 23rd of September shows 2 feet from the north, 8-second period, but now we get west wind at 19 mph, which is offshore for Tengan – that’s glassy, clean. Combined energy is only 107 though, so it’s tiny, weak. Not a standout, but a little window of clean small waves for the patient ones.

The final days of the outlook peter out into nothing – Saturday the 27th of September morning has 0.6 feet, glassy, with combined energy just 16. Flat calm.

So, if you want my honest call: there’s no true standout in this 16-day window. The only real pulse of size is Saturday the 20th of September through Monday the 22nd of September, but wind is dangerous, and the break is inconsistent anyway. Beginners, steer clear. Experienced surfers might find a window on the 23rd morning with offshore wind, but it’s ankle to knee high. A long blank run like this is not unusual for Tengan – when it’s off, it’s really off. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s one to sit out.

Rusty.

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