Watermans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up at Watermans over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a real mixed bag of a forecast, but there are some absolute gems hidden in there if you pick your windows right. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real action kicks off on Thursday afternoon, the 10th of September. The swell is a solid 5 ft from the WSW, with a 14-second period, giving it plenty of push. The wind is offshore from the ENE at 12 mph, and the wave comment says it all: “very good surf conditions.” The combined energy is moderate at 953, so it’s not a monster, but for a reef break like Watermans, that long-period groundswell will be lining up beautifully. A bit of a stand-out start.

Friday morning, the 11th, keeps the same 5 ft WSW swell, but the wind swings to a cross-off from the NNE at 12 mph. The energy jumps right up to 1619, and the wave comment calls it “clean.” This is a solid, surfable morning. The afternoon, however, gets messy as the wind becomes cross-on from the WNW, so I’d be getting in early or giving it a miss.

The weekend (12th and 13th of September) is a write-off for quality. The swell is onshore with the wind, and the wave comments are all “marginal.” The waves are pushing 6 ft to 7 ft, but with onshore wind, it’s going to be a bumpy, closed-out mess. Not worth the paddle.

Now, here’s the first true standout. Monday morning, the 14th of September. The swell is 8 ft from the WSW, with a 14-second period. The wind is a light offshore from the ENE at 6 mph, and the wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” The combined energy is strong at 2160. That’s a big, clean, powerful swell. This is for the crew who know what they’re doing. Beginners, stay on the beach for this one.

Tuesday morning, the 15th of September, is another cracker. Same story: 8 ft WSW swell, light offshore wind from the ESE at 6 mph, and an “excellent” wave comment. The energy is 2148. If you miss Monday, this is your backup.

There’s a bit of a lull in quality from around the 17th through the 18th, with onshore winds and dropping energy. The swell drops to 3 ft and the wind gets strong, so it’s looking more like a kite-surfing session than a paddle.

The 19th of September brings a big, short-period swell. 10 ft from the W, but with a period of only 8 seconds. That’s a lot of lumpy, fat water, and the wind is cross-on. The energy is massive at 3806, but it’s not going to be pretty. This one is for the experts only, and even then, it’s a maybe.

The 20th of September, Sunday morning, is a nice little surprise. The swell drops to 4 ft from the WSW, 13-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off from the NE. The wave comment says “very good surf conditions.” The energy is 894, so it’s a smaller, cleaner window. A good one for a fun, less hectic session.

The final standout is the 24th of September, Thursday. Both morning and afternoon are looking primo. The swell is 6 ft from the SW, with a 15 to 16-second period. The wind is offshore all day, first from the ENE and then from the E. The wave comments are “excellent” for experienced surfers. The energy is in the 1400 to 1700 range. This is a long-range call, so don’t book your flights yet, but it’s got the makings of a perfect day at Watermans.

Overall, the best bets are the mornings of the 14th, 15th, and the 24th of September. Those are your standouts. The rest is a pick-and-choose game.

Rusty.

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