Conditions at Arrifana in September
September: The Fall Transition Begins
September is the hinge between summer and winter. Average swell climbs slightly to 1.5m (5ft) and the period jumps to 10.4s, restoring some power to Arrifana's waves. NW swell dominates at 47.1%, with NNW at 25.5% and WNW at 14.3%; W/WSW still only account for 5.6%, so direct, perfectly angled swell remains rare. Ideal winds improve to 43%, mainly because the frequency of strong NNW winds drops to 36.4%, creating more workable morning sessions. With water at 18.3C and air at 21.3C, it is pleasant in the water, and every passing low in the North Atlantic gives hope. The first real groundswells of the autumn can produce surprisingly clean, punchy waves.
Average Spot conditions at Arrifana in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Arrifana 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 Arrifana for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Arrifana 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 Arrifana.