Hanamizu River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Hanamizu River.

Look, if you’re looking to paddle out this week, you might want to sit this one out. For the next nine days, from Thursday the 13th right through to Friday the 22nd of August, the surf is basically a no-go. The swell is tiny – mostly around 1ft to 2ft – and what little energy there is, is weak (combined energy readings are mostly in the low double digits). The wind is all over the place, usually cross or cross-on, making it choppy and messy. There’s no clean, rideable surf to speak of.

Then things start to get interesting. On Sunday the 23rd of August, a proper long-period groundswell finally shows up. We’re looking at a solid 4ft SSE swell with a 15-second period, with the morning offering clean conditions and a light cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy jumps to 865 (moderate), and it's expected to be very good. This is the standout window for the entire forecast. This is a long-period groundswell, which will push through with more power, but at this river mouth setup, it might run a bit straight, so keep your eyes open. The swell pushes up to 5ft in the afternoon, but the wind turns onshore, making it questionable. For the next few days, the swell holds, but the wind turns messy, with cross-on conditions hurting the quality. By Wednesday the 26th of August, it’s solid. The morning is glassy with an 8ft S swell and a 15-second period, and combined energy is ripping at 3202 (strong). This is excellent for experienced surfers, but that’s a fair bit of water moving around; it’ll be too much for beginners. Thursday the 27th sees a massive 21ft swell hit in the morning with glassy conditions, but the file clearly states it’s just too big for this break – that’s proper, scary, expert-only territory, and even then, it might be unsurfable here. The energy reading of 17295 says it all. By Friday the 28th, the swell drops back to a manageable 4ft SSW in the morning, but the wind shifts onshore and it gets choppy again.

The water temperature is quite warm at 81°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

So, to wrap it up: the first week and a half is flat and rubbish. Your best bet, if you’re keen, is to circle Sunday the 23rd of August for that initial pulse. It’s a real standout for quality, but don't expect it to be perfect for long. And remember, Hanamizu River can get crowded on those days, as it’s a fairly consistent spot.

Rusty.

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