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Conditions at Playa Carmen in September
September: Peak Wet Season, High Energy but Messy
September is the heart of the rainy season, and the numbers do not lie: average surf height is 5ft (1.5m), average period is 13.0s, and swell directions are split between SSW at 75.0% and SW at 22.4%. This is the highest percentage of SW swell of any month, giving Playa Carmen a slightly different, more westerly line-up. The 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) bracket is a major player, with over 41% of the time spent in that range, plus the largest share of 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) waves all year.
The trade-off is wind. Ideal offshore conditions crater to only 30%, the lowest of the year. The most common winds are from NW at 10.6%, WNW at 10.1%, WSW at 9.6%, and SW at 9.7%, with a lot of raw onshore energy. Precipitation peaks at 9.73 mm/day, air temperature cools slightly to 27.0°C, and water temperature is 28.8°C. September is all about timing, and the rewards are hollow, powerful waves for those willing to sit through heavy tropical showers.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Carmen in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Carmen during September. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Playa Carmen for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Carmen for September. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Playa Carmen.