Hanamizu River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s call it like it is. Hanamizu River is looking pretty quiet for the next couple of weeks. The first week is mostly a bust – from Saturday the 15th all the way through to the following weekend, you’re staring at tiny, weak, messy waves. There’s a big gap with no real rideable surf for days on end.

Starting Saturday the 15th through Saturday the 22nd, it’s all poor. Swell is between 0.7ft and 2ft at best, with weak energy readings in the low hundreds or less. Wind is onshore or cross-onshore most of the time. Don’t bother.

Sunday the 23rd morning finally gives us something. Hanamizu River (a beach/sandbar setup) picks up 5ft from the SSW, short period, with glassy conditions and a light ENE wind – that’s clean. Combined energy is 126, moderate. Water temp is 82°, about average for the time of year. The wave report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” so don’t expect much. Crowds show up sometimes. Score is 1 out of 10.

That afternoon it gets choppy – 6ft from the SSW, wind onshore from the S at 9 mph, combined energy 311.

Monday the 24th morning brings a 2ft SSE swell with a very long period of 16 seconds – that’s groundswell with good energy of 484 (moderate). But the wind is light cross-onshore, and at a beach break, that long period can make things straight. Score is 1 out of 10.

Now the real highlight is Tuesday the 25th. Both morning and afternoon show 7ft swell from the SSE, 15-second period. Combined energy is massive – 1957 in the morning, 1838 in the afternoon (strong to very strong). Wind is light cross in the morning from the NE at 3 mph, leaving the surface clean with light chop, and light onshore in the afternoon. At 7ft, this is big – expert only, too much for beginners. The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” score 3 out of 10. But this is the most powerful swell of the whole outlook. Just be aware the 15-second period will make it fast and maybe a bit unruly on a beach break.

Wednesday the 26th morning still has 6ft from the SE, 13-second period, combined energy 999 (moderate to strong), but cross-onshore wind from the E at 3 mph. Score 2 out of 10.

After that, from Wednesday afternoon through Sunday the 30th, it falls apart again – tiny, weak, not worth a second look.

Bottom line: Tuesday the 25th is your only real shot at some size and power. For experts only, and keep your expectations in check for a beach break with a long-period groundswell. Everything else is a miss.

Rusty.

Read more