Satellite Beach • Statistics for September

September: Tropical Swell Wildcard

September is the most interesting month of the summer-to-fall transition. Average swell height is back up to 2-3ft (0.6-0.9m) and the period stretches to 9.0s, the best of the year, thanks to tropical cyclones and increasingly active low-pressure systems in the western Atlantic. ENE and E swells dominate at 35.6% and 37.5% respectively, with NE contributing 13.3%, and there are occasional 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) and stronger ENE/NE pulses. The wind picture is much messier: ENE, E and ESE winds blow well over 40% of the time, and ideal offshore wind is only 13%. When a hurricane or strong tropical low tracks northeast of the Bahamas, expect long-period, powerful ENE/E swell, albeit often with sideshore wind. If a cold front sets up properly, west winds can turn it into a memorable 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m) day. Water is still a warm 84F (28.6C).