Kandui Left Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for the Mentawais. We’ve got one spot on the radar for the next 16 days, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag, so pay close attention.

Overall, there’s a lot of energy in the water from the get-go, with a powerful, long-period SW groundswell building through the first week. The problem is, the wind is mostly a pest, blowing cross or cross-onshore from the SSE, which is going to put a chop on most sessions. The standouts come in the form of brief windows of clean conditions, and one morning that looks truly special.

Starting off on Monday the 31st of August and into Tuesday, the swell is solid – 6 ft to 8 ft out of the SW with a very long period of 17 to 18 seconds. This is serious groundswell energy, with combined energy readings between 2419 and 3333 – that’s strong to very strong. But the wind is a problem. It’s blowing 12 to 12 mph from the SSE, making for a cross-shore to cross-onshore chop. That’s a lot of bump on a powerful wave. It’ll be out there, but it’s not going to be clean. For beginners, that 8 ft swell on Tuesday is too big anyway.

The first real highlight is Thursday, the 3rd of September. The swell drops a touch to 5 ft from the SW, still a nice 14-second period, and the wind goes totally glass. The morning is calm, the afternoon has just a whisper from the WNW. This is the window. The combined energy is moderate at 1049 to 1054, but with zero wind, that Kandui Left reef will be clean, walling up, and offering long rides. The water is a balmy 86°F, which is about 1°F warmer than average for this time of year – feels just right. This is the best day on offer for experienced surfers who can handle a consistent reef break at 5 ft. It’s worth noting this spot is “fairly consistent” and exposed to the SW swell, so you’ll get waves, but with this quality, expect crowds – the book says “always.”

Friday the 4th of September drops off a little. Cleaner in the morning with a light ESE cross-off breeze pushing 4 ft SSW swell (13-second period, 688 energy) into the break, but it’s a noticeable step down in size and power. The afternoon crosses up on you again.

From the 5th of September through to the 7th, we’re stuck in a bit of a rut. The swell hangs around the 3 ft to 4 ft mark out of the SSW with decent period, but the wind is back to a moderate 12 mph cross-shore from the SE or SSE. It’s messy. These days are just average.

Now, look ahead. Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th of September bring another promising run. The swell is small again, 4 ft out of the SSW to S, but the period jumps back up to 15-18 seconds. More importantly, the wind goes light and cross-off from the ESE in the mornings. These mornings are clean, with combined energy readings around 1380 to 1589 – moderate, but that light wind on a long-period SSW groundswell at Kandui will give you smooth, peeling lefts. The afternoons are a write-off, but the mornings are worth the paddle out. This is your second standout, but it’s for the early birds.

The swell builds again later in the second week. Around Thursday the 10th of September, we see 6 ft to 7 ft from the SSW with 16 to 17-second period and strong energy readings (2616 to 2742). The wind is light and cross to cross-on, so not perfect, but the size and power will be there for the experts. Expect choppy conditions, not the cleanest.

We hit a real low point on Monday the 14th of September. The wind cranks up to 16 mph from the SSE, putting a heavy cross-onshore chop on the 5 ft SSW swell. That’s poor conditions, and the forecast says as much. That’s a day to stay out.

Towards the end of the run, Tuesday the 15th of September shows a pulse of 7 ft to 7 ft SSW swell with 16-second period and strong energy (2159 to 2291), but the wind is still a factor, being cross to cross-onshore. It’s a big, powerful swell, but it won’t be its best self.

To sum it up: The clear standout is Thursday, the 3rd of September. Get on that morning glass. The next best is the mornings of Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th. Get after it.

Rusty.

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