Aha Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it's Rusty here. Let’s have a good hard look at what’s on the table for Aha Rivermouth over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a rough run. We’ve got a gap of almost a full week before you'd even consider paddling out. The first part is all about waiting it out. From now until Wednesday the 20th of August, it’s pretty grim. We’ve got weak, short-period swell from the east, and consistent cross-onshore winds ruining any chance of clean waves. The water is sitting at a warm 83°F, which is about average for this time of year, but that’s the only nice thing I can say. The wave energy is weak to moderate at best (115 to 463), just not worth the effort. The swell builds on Wednesday the 19th, but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore, so it's lumpy and messy – I'd give it a miss.

Thursday the 20th of August afternoon is where things get interesting, but only for the brave. The swell jumps to 10 ft from the southeast, and the combined energy is very strong (1538). The wind finally switches to a clean offshore, which would normally be heaven, but here’s the catch: the swell is too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it might be a washing machine. It’s a beach and jetty setup, and with that size and energy, this is looking more like a kite surfer’s paradise than a paddle session.

After that brief spike, it drops like a stone. Friday the 21st through to Sunday the 23rd of August is tiny – just 0.7 ft to 4 ft of weak swell. The wind is offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s simply no power. The wave energy is between 9 and 102, which is pathetic. Not worth getting wet.

Now, Monday the 24th of August – this is our one true standout. We get a beautiful, clean setup. A 4 ft to 6 ft east swell with a very long period of 16 seconds. This is proper groundswell. The wind is light offshore and almost glassy, so the surface will be like a mirror. The combined energy is huge (910 to 1646). This is the best on offer without a doubt. That said, this kind of long-period swell can be tricky – it might break too straight at a beachy spot like this. It’ll be better for the more experienced surfers who can read the sets. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get in early.

Tuesday the 25th of August is another size jump, but again, it’s too big. 12 ft to 13 ft from the east with ridiculous energy (6474 to 8169). The period is still long at 16-17 seconds. The wind is light cross-shore, but you’d need a death wish to paddle out in that. This is purely for the experts, if anyone.

From Wednesday the 26th of August onwards, it’s a complete mess. The swell stays massive, but the winds turn nasty – strong cross-onshore, gale-force, and even storm-force by the end of the month. We’re talking 13 ft to 18 ft waves with 40-95 km/h winds. By Friday the 28th, it’s a full-on storm with 53 mph gusts. Don’t even think about it. The energy is up there (10060 at one point), but it’s a dangerous, blown-out ocean. This is not surfable for anyone.

So, to sum it up for Aha Rivermouth: we’ve got one golden window – Monday the 24th of August. That’s your day. Everything before is a write-off, and everything after is a stormy monster. Keep your eyes on that date.

Rusty.

Read more