Playa Varesse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Varese region. This isn’t shaping up to be a classic stretch for the area, I’ll be honest. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a struggle for good surf. The only consistent spot the data gives us is Playa Varesse, a beginner-friendly beach break, but the conditions keep letting us down. There’s a long, quiet gap before we see anything worth paddling out for, and even then, it’s strictly for the optimistic.

We’re starting off on Wednesday, September 9th, with straight-up poor conditions. The swell is tiny at 2 ft from the south with a nice long 15-second period, but the wind is a cross-offshore breeze at 15 mph. The wave energy is moderate (121), but it’s just not enough to get into. The water temperature is sitting at 50°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a small comfort. This poor run continues through Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th, with the swell fluctuating between 1 ft and 2 ft. The highlights are a few glassy moments on Thursday morning and Friday morning, but with wave heights that small, it’s flat.

Then, on Saturday, September 12th, the swell finally shows some muscle. The morning jump to 7 ft from the SSE, with a short 8-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 508. But the wind is a messy cross-shore at 15 mph, so the wave comment tags it as poor surf conditions. The afternoon drops to 4 ft, but the cross-shore wind is still there. This is a classic case of a big, lumpy mess for a beach break. It’s likely more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing today.

Sunday the 13th morning is the first real, albeit tiny, glimmer. The swell is 3 ft from the south with a period of 10 seconds, giving us moderate energy (240). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNW at 6 mph, so it’s clean. The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not good, but it’s the best we’ve seen. The crowds are described as “sometimes,” so you might have a few mates out. For a beginner, this is a safe, manageable wave, but don’t expect any juice.

After that, we’re back into a long, dry spell. From Monday the 14th through to Tuesday the 22nd of September, it’s a run of tiny, weak swell and poor conditions. The standout moment in this stretch is Tuesday, September 15th morning, with a 2 ft south swell and a solid 11-second period, and the wind is offshore from the SW at 12 mph. The comment is “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The energy is low (71), so it’s a long paddle for a short, weak ride. The rest of that period is dominated by onshore winds, cross-shore chop, and tiny waves.

The final interesting moment comes on Sunday, September 20th afternoon. The swell picks up to 3 ft from the south with a 9-second period, and more importantly, the wind is offshore from the SW at 9 mph. The combined energy is moderate (197) and the comment is “surfable waves.” This is the best of the second week by a long shot, but it’s still a far cry from pumping. For a local, it’s a salvageable session if you’re desperate.

The long-range stuff on Monday, September 21st and Tuesday, September 22nd stays small and weak. Tuesday morning the 22nd has a clean, light cross-offshore wind and a 2 ft south swell with an 11-second period, but the energy is just 136. It’s “surfable” but very ordinary. The very end of the window, on Wednesday and Thursday the 24th, sees a bump in swell to 6 ft from the ESE, but the period is a weak 6 seconds and the wind is a nasty cross-shore. Another messy, choppy one for the beach.

So, the only true standout, if you can call it that, is that Sunday, September 13th morning session. It’s the cleanest, most manageable wave of the whole period for a beginner. For everyone else, the best bet is that Sunday, September 20th afternoon with the offshore wind, but it’s still a very ordinary session. It’s a tough run for Varese.

Rusty.

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