Conditions at Santa Cruz in September
September: First Swell of Autumn
September is when Santa Cruz starts to wake up. Average swell height rises to 5.2ft (1.6m) and the period lengthens to 10.5s, signaling the return of more organized groundswell. The swell direction is ideal: NW (36.0%), NNW (34.4%), WNW (15.4%) and W (4.4%) combine for over 90% of observations. Heights spread from 3.3ft (1m) to 8.2ft (2.5m), and the first long-period pulses of the autumn can produce surprisingly good sessions.
The wind is still mostly summer-like, with ideal conditions at 11%. NNW winds blow 32.6% and N winds 18.3% of the time, but as the Azores High begins to retreat and lows approach from the Atlantic, the weather patterns become more variable and juicy. Air temperatures average 19.8°C (min 12.2°C, max 32.1°C), precipitation is 0.95 mm/day and water temperature remains warm at 18.1°C, making a 3/2 wetsuit the best option. Late September can produce the first classic combo of clean NW swell and offshore wind.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Cruz in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.