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Conditions at Playa Grande in September
September: Wet-Season Peak with Powerful South-Southwest Lines
September is the climatic peak of the rainy season and it shows in both the swell and wind data. The average period is still solid at 13.0s and the average height holds at 1.4m, but the ideal wind score drops to 55% - the lowest since February. Winds become more variable, with a clear increase in WSW, W, and WNW flow, which is onshore at Playa Grande and can chop up the surface.
The swell direction is still predominantly from SSW (60.5%), but SW is an important secondary pulse at 32.6%, and WSW adds 3.7%. That means more of the wave energy is aimed directly at the west-facing beach. There is also a significant 2-2.5m component (1.1%) in the SW direction, so September can produce real power when storms in the South Pacific align. Precipitation peaks at 8.76mm/day and water temperature is 29.0°C. If you can find a day between storms with morning easterly offshore flow, September can deliver some of the biggest and most memorable waves of the year.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Grande in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Grande 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 Grande for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Grande 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 Grande.