Multiple Tropical Systems Finally Give Rincon, PR Surf!

2023 and this is what we need to finally get some decent surf – three large tropical weather systems and a powerful trough to push them eastward. We’ve had Hurricane Franklin as a huge storm right in our swell window for a long time. I can remember weaker storms being in the same place doing the same thing and having waves for weeks. I have no idea why the earth doesn’t like to give Rincon waves this Hurricane Season, but all of that is about to change. Starting from today we should see at least a week of solid chest to head high surf with some bigger days scattered in. The tides will be important. Tropical swell tends like incoming tides. The varying water levels at the beach will also affect the breaking wave though so a lot of spots might be bigger on the incoming tide, but closing out more unless you know the right chunk of reef or sand bar that will be working well with all that extra water. The multiple storms will also result in multiple swells which will sometimes play nice with each other, and sometimes will get in each other’s way. Though we will have good waves, there will still be lulls and fluctuations. Stay patient, spread out, and have fun.

The battle between two weak swells, will there be surf?

Post-Tropical Storm Odette should generate a modest swell over the next couple of days as a post-tropical cyclone. The pressure and wind matches what we see in a weak cold-front swell. A weak cold-front swell normally gives us some chest high surf for a day or two. In addition, some models are calling for a quick dip down which should help form some longer period NE swell. The only problem is that Tropical Storm Peter will be taking a track that competes with swell in the opposing direction. Tropical Storm Peter is also currently forecast to break the 65 west barrier and would otherwise increase the possibilities for surf in Rincon. However, the weak state of the storm and it’s movement away from the island looks like it may just be a nuisance. The interaction between both swells increases the likelihood of showing up to the beach mid-week with unfulfilled hopes and dreams. Real-time buoy data will be more important than model runs on this swell event. I’ll update further as events unfold for a possible swell mid-week into next weekend. We stay on the small side for surf for now.

Photos by: Mo Money