Kugenuma Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

The outlook starts quiet, with a few small, rideable waves kicking off on Thursday the 27th of August, but the conditions are a bit of a lottery. The real action, if you can call it that, is a long way off and comes with a lot of wind.

Thursday 27th August – Kugenuma Rivermouth is the only game in town. You’ve got a 3ft swell from the SSW, short period of 6 seconds, so it’s a bit of a weak, choppy thing. The saving grace is a glassy morning – truly calm wind – which makes it clean enough for a beginner to have a splash. The water's warm at 82°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s a nice bath. The combined energy is weak (132). It’s not going to set the world on fire, but it’s surfable.

Friday 28th August – Not much better. The morning is a cross-on mess. The afternoon goes glassy again with a 3ft SSW swell, but the energy is still low (115). You’ll get a few grovelly waves.

Saturday 29th through Sunday 30th August – Tiny. Best left for a swim. The swell drops to 1ft-1ft. Even the glassy periods can’t save it.

Monday 31st August – Here’s a glimmer. A 2ft swell from the South with a *very* long period of 13 seconds (groundswell) rolls in for the morning. This is a sneaky little pulse. The period is long, so at this river mouth it might be a bit straight, but with glassy, offshore wind, it could be a clean, fun wave for a log. The energy is moderate (110). The afternoon gets ruined by onshore wind.

Tuesday 1st to Friday 4th September – A write-off. The onshore wind is relentless, blowing from the South and Southwest, gusting up to 28 mph. The surf is poor, lumpy, and choppy. Not worth a second look.

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September – A big turnaround. The wind finally swings offshore from the North. Saturday morning has a tiny 1ft SSW swell, but by Saturday afternoon we get a 3ft from the SE with moderate offshore wind and clean conditions. The real highlight might be Sunday the 6th: a 3ft SSW swell (10 seconds) crosses up with a 2ft S swell (9 seconds). The afternoon is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze and the combined energy is moderate (167). This is the best window of the first week.

Monday 7th & Tuesday 8th September – The standout. Monday morning has a 3ft S swell with a solid offshore breeze. Clean lines. But Tuesday 8th September is the pick of the entire forecast. The morning delivers a 3ft SSW swell with a very long period of 12 seconds, gentle offshore wind, and the highest combined energy we’ve seen (264). This is a proper groundswell. The river mouth will strip the energy and make it hollow, and with offshore wind, it’ll be clean and fun. This is the one to circle.

Wednesday 9th & Thursday 10th September – The swell pumps up, but the wind shuts it down. On Wednesday the 9th morning, we see a 5ft SSW swell with a 12-second period, but the onshore wind is already blowing. The energy is strong (655). By the afternoon, the swell hits 8ft, which is too big for beginners and only for experts. The wind is howling onshore, making it a messy, stormy mess. Thursday the 10th is more of the same: big, windy, and ugly. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Friday 11th September – A final saving grace. The morning delivers a clean 3ft SSW swell with a 13-second period and offshore wind. The energy is moderate (346). The afternoon sees a bigger 5ft swell with cross-offshore wind, but the energy jumps to strong (661). It’s a bit of a beast, but with clean wind, it’ll be a proper session for the experienced crew.

So, to wrap it up: the first few days are a wash. The best honest, clean surf comes on Monday 7th and especially Tuesday 8th September at Kugenuma Rivermouth. That’s your window. The second week is bigger but wind-blown, with Friday 11th as a decent consolation prize. Crowds are a possibility as this spot is often busy, so get in early.

Rusty.

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