Hideaways (Mentawi Islands) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, switching over to the imperial side of things.

First up, we're looking at Hideaways (Mentawi Islands). This is a reef setup that's consistent and gets a fair bit of the SW swell. The water is sitting at a warm 85°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off, honestly. Monday the 3rd kicks off with a westerly wind and a cross-on, 5ft swell, but it's all messy. The combined energy is weak (996), and conditions are poor. That continues through Tuesday and Wednesday, with a building swell but the wind is all wrong – cross-onshore and choppy. We're seeing a bit more energy in the water (up to 1652 on Wednesday morning), but the surf is just not clean.

Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th see the swell really kick in, around 7ft to 8ft, but again, it's cross-on and choppy. The energy is getting strong (3298, 3480), but it's useless for a good paddle. By Saturday the 8th, we get a slight improvement with lighter winds, but it's still a marginal call.

Now, here's the thing. There's a dry spell from Sunday the 9th through most of the following week. The swell drops right out, with some periods showing nothing at all. The wind is offshore on the 10th and 11th, but the swell is tiny – 2ft to 4ft, with a very long period (20-24 seconds). That's a groundswell, which is great for a reef like this, but the size is just small. The energy is low (268 to 1014). It's clean, but not really worth the paddle.

The real standout, the one you've been waiting for, starts on Saturday the 15th of August. The morning brings a clean 5ft swell from the SSW with a light offshore breeze. The energy is solid (1074). But it's the afternoon and the following days that are the true gems. Saturday afternoon through Sunday the 16th, and into Monday the 17th, we see the swell bump up to 6ft to 7ft, clean offshore winds, and the energy is really pumping (up to 3120). This is excellent, experienced-surfer territory. The waves are going to be solid, clean, and lined up.

But the absolute best of the best, the one to circle on the calendar, is Tuesday the 18th of August. Morning and afternoon you've got a solid 10ft SSW swell, with a moderate offshore wind. The combined energy is massive (5180). That's a serious, powerful swell. The wind is clean, and for a reef like Hideaways, that's a recipe for some of the best waves of the season. It's big, so it's for experts only, but if you can handle it, this is the day.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a bust. The second week has a few clean, small days, but the real payoff is from the 15th to the 18th, with Tuesday the 18th being the absolute stand-out.

Rusty.

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