Ormond Beach • Statistics for September

September: Hurricane Swell Season Lights Up

September is the most intriguing month at Ormond Beach because it brings the highest average period of the year - 8.9s - alongside an average swell height of 2-3ft (0.7m). That is the signature of tropical cyclone swell mixing with early-season cold fronts. The swell rose looks excellent: ENE at 31.2, E at 35.4, ESE at 16.7, and NE at 11.3, with a notable jump in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) categories compared with summer. The problem is wind. Onshore ENE flow blows 14.9 percent of the time, E 12.0, NE 10.9, and ESE 10.2, pushing the ideal wind share down to 12 percent. That means September offers brilliant potential but inconsistent quality. When a hurricane passes well offshore and a post-frontal west wind kicks in, Ormond Beach can produce punchy, lined-up walls in the 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) range. Water temps hold at 28.3°C and air averages 26.3°C, so it still feels like summer, but the Atlantic is starting to wake up.