Kamakura Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Kamakura. The next week and a half is pretty grim for a paddle, but there’s a couple of windows that have my eyebrows raised.

For the first few days, it’s a real struggle. Tuesday the 1st through to Monday the 7th of September, we’re looking at tiny, gutless swell with barely any energy. The combined energy barely cracks triple digits (29-99), and with wave heights hovering around 1 foot to 2 feet, it’s just not worth getting wet. The wind is often offshore, which is a taunt – clean faces but nothing to ride. It’s a frustrating patience test.

Then, Tuesday the 8th of September finally shows a pulse. The swell bumps up to 2.6 feet from the SSE, but the energy jumps to 270, and it’s still a bit marginal. The morning has fresh offshore wind, so it’ll be clean, but it’s not pumping. The afternoon gets messy with a cross-onshore breeze.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 9th of September is the first real standout. The morning brings a solid 6.6 foot swell from the SE, with a long 14-second period. The combined energy is a healthy 1577. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean and well-shaped. This is a groundswell, which at a beach break can sometimes be a bit straight, but the size and period will make for some powerful, fun waves. It’s not for beginners though – 6.6 feet is getting into the big stuff.

Thursday the 10th of September morning is the absolute jewel of the forecast. The swell is 7.5 feet from the S with a 14-second period – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is a meaty 2578, showing strong to very strong wave energy. The wind is glassy, zero wind, so the conditions will be perfect, clean lines. This is a day for experienced surfers only, as it’s over 8 feet. The afternoon gets ruined by a strong onshore wind and a risk of thunderstorms, so the morning session is the one.

Friday the 11th of September morning is for the crew with big boards. The swell is 9.8 feet from the SSE, which is huge and expert-only. The wind is cross-offshore and clean, but the forecast says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. The energy is 2894 – massive. It’s a spectacle, but not a fun paddle.

The following days, from Saturday the 12th through to the 16th, the swell drops and the wind turns onshore, making for poor, choppy conditions. The window closes quickly.

So, the best on offer is the Thursday the 10th of September morning session at Kamakura. That 7.5 foot S groundswell with glassy conditions is about as good as it gets for a short window. The Wednesday the 9th morning is also a top pick, with a solid 6.6 foot SE swell and clean conditions. Don’t sleep on that Thursday morning – it’s the one.

Read more