Kugenuma Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get a look at Kugenuma for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be honest, it’s a rough start.

We’ve got a long stretch of barely anything worth paddling for. From Tuesday the 25th right through to the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September, it’s mostly flat or messy. Most days show poor surf – a few clean ones but the waves are tiny, like knee-high or less. The combined swell energy is really weak, down in the teens and twenties. The water temp is around `82°F`, which is about normal for the season. The wind’s mostly onshore or cross-shore – nothing to write home about.

Then things wake up a little. On the afternoon of Tuesday the 1st of September, we get a clean window. Kugenuma Rivermouth (Kanagawa) sees a light offshore wind from the NNE at about `9 mph`, shifting to cross-offshore in the afternoon. Swell comes in around `3 ft` from the S, with a period of `12` seconds – that’s real groundswell energy. The combined energy hits `296`, so it’s moderate. The waves will be clean and rideable – a good option for a beginner or anyone just wanting a smooth session.

Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is more interesting, but with a big caveat. Swell jumps to about `7 ft` from the S at `11` seconds – solid size. Combined energy is `1051`, which is strong. But the wind is light cross-shore from the ESE, so it’ll be a bit bumpy. This is expert territory – too big for beginners, you’ll want some experience under your belt. The river mouth will handle that long-period swell okay, but it might break a little straight.

Now, Thursday the 3rd of September morning is the real standout, but it’s more of a warning than an invitation. Swell is massive at `25 ft` from the S, with a `12` second period. The combined energy reading is absolutely huge at `21986` – that’s dangerous, powerful swell. Wind is cross-onshore from the SSE at `9 mph`, so lumpy and heavy. This is only for the elite, the big-wave crew. Kugenuma Rivermouth (Kanagawa) is going to be a churning mess. For everyone else, watch from the sand.

After that, it drops off fast. From the 4th of September onward, we’re back to tiny, weak waves and poor conditions. The wind turns strong offshore at times, which would be a bonus, but there’s just no swell to work with – heights drop to `1 ft` or less. By the second week, we’re into heavy rain and strong winds with no surf to speak of. The combined energy sinks back below `100` most days.

So, to wrap it up – this 16-day window is a tough one. The only half-decent sessions are on the afternoon of Tuesday the 1st of September and maybe Wednesday morning the 2nd. The big standout is Thursday the 3rd, but it’s a beast and only for the serious. There’s a long flat spell after that. Keep an eye on the forecasts, though – it doesn’t stay this quiet forever around here.

Rusty.

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