Santa Maria • Statistics for September

September: Autumn Hints at Power, Wind Still Offers Options

September is the real turning point. The average swell height climbs to 1.4m (4-5ft) and the average period jumps back above 9s to 9.0s - the first month since April to show a real increase in period. NNE supplies 54.8% of the swell, NE 17.2%, N 12.1% and NNW 7.0%, with more spread across the northern quadrant. The percentage of 1.5-2m (5-6ft) waves is growing again (17.1% from NNE alone), and the ideal wind window remains substantial at 27%. Winds are split between NNE (31.8%), NE (32.2%) and lighter N/NNW flows, giving better chances for a clean session. Water temperature is at its warmest at 27.0°C, air temps 26.4°C, and rainfall increases to 1.40 mm/day - the wettest month, though still intermittent. Keep an eye on tropical waves in the central Atlantic; if one slips north, Santa Maria can see a burst of longer-period SSW/S swell - the direction this spot really wants.