Conditions at Arica in September
September: Spring Switch-Up, More SSW
September brings the first hint of spring, but the ocean is still in winter mode. Average height stays around 6ft (1.8m), period at 13.3s, and 46.1% of waves sit in the 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) range, with 20.5% at 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m). What changes is the direction: SSW becomes the leading source at 51.0%, with SW at 44.8%; the split is more SSW-heavy than the preceding winter months. That means more waves arriving from a less favorable angle for the WNW-facing spot; the long period is crucial for wrapping and keeping some shape. Wind is still predominantly onshore-WSW (43.6%) and W (51.4%) account for 95% of observations, with 3.4% WNW. Ideal offshore is 0%. Air temps stay cool at 16.7°C, water is 15.8°C, and the desert remains bone-dry. As spring progresses, expect the swell intensity to slowly back off, but September is not there yet.
Average Spot conditions at Arica in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Arica 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 Arica for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Arica 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 Arica.