Hideaways (Mentawi Islands) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down what's on the menu for the Mentawi Islands over the next couple of weeks.

First off, we’ve got a bit of a flat spell to kick things off. Wednesday the 12th through to Friday morning the 14th is pretty much a write-off – tiny, messy, and not worth paddling out for. The water temp is sitting right on average for this time of year at about 85°, so at least the wait is comfortable.

Things start to tick over a little on Friday afternoon, but it’s still small and weak. Saturday the 15th sees the first hints of life with a bit more energy pushing in – a modest 3 ft swell from the SSW on Saturday morning, with some glassy conditions making it look clean. But honestly, it’s not until Sunday the 16th that we start to see a proper pulse, with a clean 3 ft swell and offshore winds.

The real story, though, is what’s brewing for the following week. Monday the 17th afternoon is when the juice really starts flowing. We’ve got a solid 4 ft SSW groundswell rolling in, with a 14-second period and clean offshore winds. The energy is climbing into the moderate range and the setup is looking very good.

Then, from Tuesday the 18th, it’s game on. Hideaways (Mentawi Islands) is going to fire. The swell builds to 7 ft on Tuesday morning from the SSW, with a long 16-second period and clean offshore east-southeast wind. This is top-shelf, proper groundswell – the kind that makes these reefs sing. The energy is strong. This is excellent surf, but at 7 ft, it’s moving into experienced surfer territory.

The standout window is Wednesday the 19th morning through to Thursday the 20th morning. Wednesday morning sees the peak of the swell at 8 ft from the SSW, 18-second period, and offshore wind. The energy is massive. This is big, powerful, and perfect for the crew who know what they’re doing. It’s a proper groundswell which will be holding up well on the reef here. The afternoon does get a bit cross-off and will be a touch bumpier, but still solid.

For the rest of the week and into the next, the swell hangs in there with a strong pulse. Friday the 21st through to Monday the 24th sees consistent 6 ft to 7 ft SSW swell, with excellent conditions and clean winds, often glassy. Even the mornings are looking clean. The energy stays in the strong range. The period backs off a touch to 14-15 seconds, but it’s still a quality groundswell.

To be honest, the best bet is to lock in the 18th through the 24th. The real standout is Wednesday the 19th morning – that 8 ft SSW groundswell with offshore wind and a 18-second period, with massive energy, is as good as it gets. It’s a big swell, so only for the experienced, but it’s a dream setup. If you can’t make that, the whole stretch from the 18th to the 24th is firing with excellent, consistent surf. The crowds at Hideaways are often there, so be prepared to share, but that's the price for such a quality wave.

Rusty.

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