Hanamizu River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Hanamizu River.

To be honest, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and bleak for the most part. We’ve got a long stretch of days with hardly any swell, and the wind isn’t doing us any favours. The wave energy is sitting in the weak to low-moderate range for what feels like an eternity. For the first twelve days, there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. The few bits of swell that do show up are small, under 3 feet, and the wind is constantly cross or cross-onshore, messing up any chance of a clean face. It’s a real dry spell.

The one glimmer of hope comes late in the forecast. On Thursday, 20th August, we see a proper pulse of swell. The morning brings a 5 ft south swell with a clean, light onshore breeze, and the combined energy jumps to a solid 400, which is a significant step up from the doldrums. The waves will have some grunt, but the period is 10 seconds, so it’s a shorter-period wind swell, not a classic groundswell. It’s got some push, but it won’t be perfect. The afternoon is a write-off, though, as the wind picks up to a cross-onshore at 9 mph and the swell gets a bit bumpy and choppy.

Then, on Saturday, 22nd August, we get a real treat. The morning is glassy, absolutely flat calm. The swell is small, only 2 ft, and the period is a long 10 seconds from the south. The energy is weak (67), so it’s not going to light up the river mouth, but if you’re patient and on a longboard, you might find a clean little ripple. The conditions will be pristine, but the waves will be tiny.

So, the standout here is the Thursday, 20th August morning session. It’s the only day with any real size and energy, and while it’s a bit of a wind swell, it’s the best on offer. The glassy Saturday morning is a close second for sheer cleanliness, but it’s a gamble on getting any waves.

The water temperature is about 80°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Keep your eyes on the charts, but don’t hold your breath for the first week and a half.

Rusty.

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