The Window Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty.

Right, let’s be straight with you. The next stretch is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a heap of energy heading our way, but the wind is going to mess with a lot of it. The first real window of opportunity doesn't appear until Monday the 14th of September, and even then, it’s not perfect. Before that, Saturday and Sunday are pretty much a write-off—we’ve got a rising swell but it’s coming in with onshore winds, making for poor surf conditions. You’d be fighting a losing battle.

The standout period looks to be around Tuesday the 15th of September. We’ve got a solid 9.8ft SW swell with a 14-second period, which is proper groundswell, and the morning has that glassy, offshore ENE wind. The Window (Hawaii) is a reef break and this is where that long-period swell really shines. The energy is strong, with a combined energy reading of 3483, and the conditions are rated as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The afternoon on Tuesday drops off a bit as the wind swings, but the morning session is the pick of the whole run.

Following that, we ease off. The swell drops through Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th, down to the 4.3ft to 5.6ft range. The wind is more cross and cross-on, so it’s not going to be as clean. It’s a bit of a letdown after that Tuesday morning, but there’s still some rideable waves if you’re keen.

Then it gets messy. Friday the 18th we’ve got gale-force onshore winds hammering us. That’s a complete blowout, don’t even bother. That kicks off a run of big, stormy surf that’s going to be well overhead and mostly messy. Saturday the 19th sees a huge 18ft SW swell, but it’s crossed up. Saturday afternoon cleans up a little, with a 14.8ft swell and cross-off winds, giving it a score of 5, and that might be one for the more experienced crew looking for a challenge, but it’s still not what I’d call a casual surf.

The following days are a mix of clean windows ruined by cross-onshore winds. Monday the 21st is big and bumpy. There is another standout, though. Tuesday the 22nd of September morning is looking prime again. A hefty 13.1ft SW swell, 15-second period, and the wind is light and offshore from the east. That’s another excellent condition call for experienced surfers. The energy will be strong, in the 6599 range. That’s a big day and a half.

After that, we wind down into the second week. The swell drops back to the 8.2ft to 9.8ft range but the winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s less appealing. There’s a run of not-so-great conditions from Wednesday the 23rd through to Friday the 25th, with the wind messing things up. Saturday the 26th sees a jump back up to 13.1ft, but with a shorter 10-second period and a cross-on wind, it loses its shape. Sunday the 27th has another 13.1ft of SW swell with a long 15-second period, but a fresh cross-shore wind will make it lumpy.

So, to sum it up: the two clear standouts are the mornings of Tuesday the 15th and Tuesday the 22nd of September. The first is the more user-friendly size, the second is a proper big-wave session. Both are for experienced surfers, and both are when The Window will be at its best. Everything else in between is either blowy, messy, or just not as good.

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