Guajataca • Statistics for September

September: Tropical Swell Season Begins to Bubble

September is a wildcard month at Guajataca. The baseline is still very small - average swell height 0.6m and average period 6.1s - with ESE at 54.5% and SE at 33.6% dominating. But the distribution also shows more spread into S, SW, WSW and NW directions, a hint that tropical cyclones and early autumn cold fronts are beginning to stir. These events can produce 3-5ft (1-1.5m) or larger swells, but they often arrive in disorganized form or with poor winds. Ideal wind percentages recover to 17%, and southerly quadrant winds are more common at around 7.6%, offering occasional offshore or at least cross-offshore windows. Average water temperature is 29.2°C, air temperatures average 27.8°C (24.8-32.8°C), and rainfall rises to 5.74 mm/day - the wettest month of the year. If you can read the tropical models and get lucky with a compact hurricane swell, September can deliver unexpected prizes between the small, trade-blown lulls.