Asakawa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for our neck of the woods.

Right off the bat, things are messy. There’s a big pulse of swell but the wind is all wrong, so we’re looking at a pretty tough run for the next few weeks. The only real consensus is at Asakawa, a point break that’s inconsistent, but when it’s on, it has potential. The water temp is sitting at 84°F, which is about 2°F warmer than normal for this time of year – not a huge jump, but you’ll notice it feels a touch soupy.

The best we’ve got is Tuesday the 25th of August. It’s not perfect, but it’s the standout. Tuesday morning sees a solid 10ft swell from the SSE, packing some serious grunt – the combined energy is reading 4834, that’s strong to very strong. It’s a long-period groundswell at 14 seconds, so this will wrap nicely around the point. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the SSW at 6 mph, which is manageable. The trouble is, the forecast notes marginal surf conditions and questionable tides, so you’ll need to pick your moment. Expect crowds here sometimes, so you won’t be alone, but for the size, it’s the call. That size is over 8ft, so this is strictly for experienced surfers only.

Tuesday afternoon drops to 8ft, still big, but the wind swings straight onshore and the score drops. By Wednesday the 26th, the swell is fading to 7ft with the same cross-on wind, and the energy is down to 1145 – moderate now. Conditions go downhill fast after that.

From Wednesday afternoon through the end of August, it’s a long stretch of poor to marginal. The swell drops below 5ft, periods shorten up, and the wind stays cross-onshore or onshore. The combined energy dips into the two and three-digit values, weak to moderate at best. There’s a couple of glassy windows – Saturday the 29th morning has 4ft and glassy conditions, but it’s from the SSW with a short 8-second period, so the waves will be weak and fat. Sunday the 30th morning is glassy too, but only 2ft and barely any energy (88). Not worth suiting up for.

The first week of September is no better. Swell tries to build again around the 1st and 2nd, with 5ft to 6ft, but the wind is fresh and onshore – 15 to 19 mph from the east. That’s a messy, lumpy setup. A spot like Asakawa with that wind and size might actually look more appealing for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. By the 7th of September, we get another pulse – Monday morning sees 6ft from the ESE, and Monday afternoon jumps to 8ft with the same direction, and the energy jumps to 1662 (strong). Wind is light, but the onshore component keeps it from being clean. That’s a long way out, so treat it as promising but not locked in.

After that, it fizzles into small, weak surf again.

So, to sum it up: the only real window to get something decent is Tuesday the 25th of August morning at Asakawa, if you’re experienced and can handle the size and the tide. After that, the outlook is grim for a solid week and a half, with marginal conditions and onshore winds ruling the roost. If you’re not keen on dodging wind chop, keep the board in the car.

Rusty.

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