Kamakura Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and wax, let's talk Kamakura. We've got a long stretch ahead, and honestly, it starts off pretty flat and slow. It's going to be a wait, but there's some real potential at the back end of this forecast if you've got patience.

Right now, and for the next week, you'd be better off just staring at the ocean than trying to paddle out. The first real chance of a wave doesn't show up until Tuesday the 25th. Before that, it's ankle-snatchers. On the 17th, we're looking at a tiny 1 ft cross-on swell that's just messy. The morning of the 18th is glassy, but the swell is barely a ripple at 0.7 ft. This pattern of tiny, weak surf and mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds just keeps on until the 24th. The 24th is actually our first taste of decent size, with a 6 ft swell and a moderate wave energy reading (312), but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore blowing at 22 mph, making it a lumpy, choppy mess. That setup honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. So from now until the 24th, it's a long, frustrating gap with nothing to recommend.

Now, the one true standout window starts on Tuesday morning, the 25th of August. This is where things get interesting. The wind is dead calm, glassy as a mirror. Kamakura is an exposed beach break, and we've got a 2 ft groundswell rolling in from the southeast with a very long 13-second period. The combined wave energy is a solid moderate 230. That long period means the waves will have some punch and shape, but at an exposed beach break, those long-period swells can sometimes close out a bit. Still, this is the cleanest the lineup will be all week. It won't be huge, but the quality will be there. Later that afternoon, the wind swings onshore, so that morning window is the go.

Then, hold onto your hats for the 26th and 27th. The morning of the 26th sees a jump in size to 6 ft from the SSE, with a very long 17-second period. The energy is now very strong at 1688. The wind is light and cross-shore, making for some small ripples but overall surfable. The 27th is for the experts only. We're looking at a solid 7 ft to 8 ft SSE groundswell with that same long period. The wind on the 27th is actually clean, blowing offshore from the NNE at 16-19 mph. The energy is pumping at 2375 to 2724. This is big, powerful, and clean. Kamakura can handle this kind of south swell, but it will be a demanding session. The crowds at Kamakura are sometimes an issue, so expect company.

On Friday the 28th, the swell peaks at a massive 10 ft from the SSE. That's too big for anyone but the most experienced local chargers, and even then, the wind on Friday afternoon swings cross-shore and the energy is chaotic. The 28th morning, however, has strong offshore winds, but the size is overpowering. It's a day to watch from the beach. After that, the 29th is a write-off with gale-force winds, and the first of September brings it back down to a cleaner, smaller 3 ft from the SE.

So, to sum it up: there is absolutely nothing worth paddling for until Tuesday the 25th. That glassy morning is a true standout for clean, fun waves on a long-period swell. The 26th and 27th are your best shots at some real power and size, especially the 27th with the offshore wind, but that one is for the experienced crew. Don't hold your breath for the first week. It’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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