Wainui Beach • Statistics for September

September: Spring Swing and Westerly Flow

September marks the start of the spring swing. Average swell height drops slightly to 5.5ft (1.7m), but the period stays at a solid 10.5 seconds and the wind remains heavily offshore - ideal wind frequency is 51 percent. S swell is still the single largest directional component at nearly 19 percent, with SSE close behind, and there is enough E/ESE/SE energy to keep the beach working well. The defining feature of September is the strength of the westerly quarter: WNW, NW and NNW together account for over 41 percent of all wind observations, giving Wainui plenty of clean, groomed conditions. Onshore E/SE flow is small at around 11 percent. Water temperature is at its early-spring coolest, 13.9°C, while air temperatures begin to recover to 11.1°C. The size is a bit more moderate than midwinter, but the consistency remains high. September rewards patience with long, clean, carvable walls, especially in the 3-6ft range.