- Home
- ...North America
Costa Rica- Playa Dominical
Conditions at Playa Dominical in September
September: Big Fall Swell, Tropical Storm Season
September is the peak of the Central American rainy season, and the surf reflects the storminess. Average swell height is 4.5ft (1.4m) with a 13.0s period, and the swell direction is a near-perfect mix of SSW (71%) and SW (28%). The distribution skews solid: nearly 29% of waves come in the 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) range, and the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) class dominates the rest. Tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific can add extra energy to the already active South Pacific swell window.
Wind quality remains poor on paper - ideal just 24% of the time - but the wind rose in September is more evenly spread, with significant W, WNW and WSW components that can actually be side-shore at certain tides. Rain is plentiful at 7.12mm/day, and air temps are warm at 21.1°C (70°F). Water temp remains balmy at 28.7°C (84°F). If you can handle a few sessions in the rain and stay flexible with your wind checks, September offers some of the most powerful, uncompromising surf of the year.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Dominical in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Dominical 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 Dominical for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Dominical 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 Dominical.