Mawi Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks at Mawi are a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid run of decent sized swell coming through, but the wind is going to be a constant companion, and it’s never quite blowing straight offshore. This means the waves will be clean enough, but that cross-off breeze will keep the surface a little textured. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The action starts this Saturday, 18 July. We’re looking at a 5-foot SW groundswell rolling in with a nice long 15-second period, packing a solid 1135 of wave energy. The wind is a moderate cross-off from the SE at 15 mph, which keeps things rideable. It’s an advanced reef break, so this is not a spot for beginners. The swell direction is coming right out of the southwest, exactly what this spot likes to see. It’s a bit of a shame the winds aren’t a touch lighter, but it’s still surfable for the crew that knows the place. Keep an eye on the crowds, they can be a factor here sometimes.

Sunday, 19 July, the swell drops a little to 4 feet, but the wind picks up to a fresh 18 mph. The wave energy is still strong, hitting 1342 in the afternoon. It’s going to be a bit more of a battle to get out, but the sets will still offer up some decent lines.

The standout of the whole forecast is shaping up for Monday, 20 July. We’ve got a bigger push of swell coming in at 6 to 7 feet from the SSW and SW, with periods of 17-seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy jumps to 2606. This is expert territory for sure, with waves over 8 feet being too much for most. The wind is still a fresh cross-off, but that swell is powerful. The long period will make the sets a bit more spaced out, which is a bonus for paddling back out, but at a reef break like Mawi, it’s going to be a solid, heavy wave. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

The swell hangs around the 5 to 6-foot range through Tuesday and Wednesday, with the same cross-off wind pattern. The energy stays in the strong range, but the period drops a bit, so the waves will be a little more packed together.

We hit a bit of a lull from Thursday, 23 July, through to Friday, 24 July, with the swell dropping under 4 feet and the energy slipping below 800. Still surfable, but you’ll be working for those smaller waves.

A bit of a weird one comes in on Sunday, 26 July. The swell is back up to 6 feet, but it’s a short-period SE windswell at only 8 seconds. The wind is honking at 25 mph in the afternoon with poor conditions. This setup is more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle guys. The energy is moderate at 845, but it’s just not a clean wave.

The last week of July and into August brings a new hope. Monday, 27 July, kicks off a really promising run. The swell is back to a 3 to 5-foot SSW groundswell, but the period is massive – 21 seconds on Monday morning! That’s about as long as it gets. The wave energy is strong at 1991. The wind is a moderate 12-15 mph cross-off. This is a true groundswell, and at Mawi, that long period will wrap in beautifully. The only downside is the wind is still a factor, but it’s the best we’ve seen.

This pattern continues right through to the end of the forecast. Tuesday, 28 July, and Wednesday, 29 July, are both solid, with 5 to 6-foot SSW swell and 16-18 second periods. The wind backs off a little on Wednesday to a gentle 9 mph, which is the lightest we’ll see. The energy is consistently over 1000-1800, so there’s plenty of push.

Then, a big pulse hits on Friday, 31 July. The swell jumps to 7 feet from the SW with a 17-second period, and the energy goes through the roof at 3046. That’s a serious session for the experts. The wind is a fresh 21 mph, so it’s going to be a battle, but the size and power will be there.

The final few days of the forecast, into August, keep the size up in the 6 to 8-foot range with long periods. The wind stays in that cross-off zone. The best overall window, if you can pick a day, is the stretch from Monday, 27 July, through Wednesday, 29 July, and then again on Friday, 31 July, and Sunday, 2 August. The swell direction is consistently in the SSW to SW sweet spot for Mawi. Wrist-rockets required.

Stay safe out there.
Rusty

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