Johanna Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s cookin’ down at Johanna. This stretch of coastline is about to get absolutely hammered by some serious SW groundswell for the next couple of weeks, so if you’ve got a big wave board, now’s the time to dust it off.

The pattern is straightforward: a massive pulse of long-period SW swell arrives in a couple of days, and it just keeps on giving with multiple reinforcements. The water temperature is about 57°, which is pretty much average for the time of year, so you’ll want a decent wettie.

We’ve got a bit of a dry spell right now, but the action kicks off this Saturday, September 12th. Saturday morning, the swell is already a solid 12 ft from the SW with a 15-second pulse and crazy energy levels (5603). The wind is a light cross-off from the NNW, so it’ll be clean and lined up. This is proper, heavy groundswell – expert territory for sure, but the quality is unreal. Saturday afternoon gets even better: the wind drops to glassy, dead calm, with 10 ft of clean SW swell. That afternoon session is the standout of the first week, no question. Just keep in mind that crowds are often a thing here, so get out early.

Sunday the 13th sees the swell ease a bit to 8 ft, but the wind on Sunday morning is a fresh 19 mph cross-off from the north. It’s still clean, but that wind is howling, making it a bit of a battle to get out.

We hit a rough patch from Monday the 14th through Wednesday the 16th as the wind turns onshore or cross-shore and the quality drops out. Monday is a write-off with weak, short-period windswell. Tuesday is downright nasty: 15 ft to 16 ft of SW swell but with rain and strong onshore winds – that’s blown out and dangerous. Wednesday is a similar story, with big 16 ft swell and cross-onshore winds making for a choppy mess. There’s some serious wave energy in the water (over 9000 on Tuesday and Wednesday), but the conditions are terrible for a paddle. Honestly, with that wind and swell, a kite would have a better time than a surfboard.

Things clean up on Thursday the 17th, but the swell is still a heavy 12 ft, and the wind goes light onshore. Not ideal.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting for the real chargers. Look ahead to Tuesday, September 22nd. Tuesday morning is forecast to be *glassy* with an easterly breeze, and a massive 20 ft SW groundswell with 16-second period and an insane energy reading of 18715. That is a truly colossal, very long-period groundswell. It’s predicted to be too big for this break, so only the absolute elite need apply. It’s a promise of something epic, but that far out, take it with a pinch of salt.

Sunday, September 27th, is another one to circle on the calendar. Sunday morning looks like a gem: 13 ft of clean SW groundswell with a 16-second period and a light offshore breeze from the NNE. The energy is massive (8773), and the conditions are clean. That afternoon, it gets even bigger at 15 ft with a 17-second period and 12353 energy, with a favourable cross-off wind. Another absolute standout for experts, and a great way to close out the forecast window.

So, to boil it down: the absolute best windows are Saturday afternoon September 12th for a glassy, powerful session, and then Sunday morning September 27th for another clean, heavy groundswell day. The 22nd is a monster swell but far out and maybe too big even for Johanna.

Stay safe out there, and don't even think about paddling out on the Tuesday or Wednesday after this weekend unless you're on a gun and a whole different level.

Rusty.

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