Mawi Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me break this down for you. Rusty here, looking at Mawi for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got some serious juice coming in. A good SW groundswell with long intervals will start pushing through from Wednesday, August 19th. The water’s 80°, which is right where it should be for this time of year – no weird temperature anomalies.

Wednesday afternoon is the one to circle. Swell at 8ft from the SW, period 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and Mawi being a reef exposed to the SW, it’ll handle it clean. Wind is cross-off from the SE at 9 mph, keeping the surface smooth. The combined energy reading is 4532 (moderate to strong). This is the standout. It’s advanced-only, so if you’ve got the skills, this is your session.

Thursday the 20th keeps building. Thursday morning hits 10ft from the SW, period 16 seconds, cross-off from the ESE at 12 mph. That’s over 8ft, so experts only. Energy is 4094, still very strong. Thursday afternoon drops to 8ft but stays clean with SE cross-off at 9 mph, earning one of the only "excellent" condition notes in the whole forecast.

Friday the 21st through Sunday the 23rd hangs in the 6ft to 8ft range, periods 15 to 17 seconds. Winds stay cross-off but pick up to 12–16 mph. It’s still clean, but the energy drops into the 2000–2800 range (moderate). Surfable, not amazing.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th hold around 6ft to 7ft, but wind stays up at 16–19 mph. Energy slides into the 1500–2000 range (weak to moderate). The quality drops off.

Wednesday the 26th: 6ft, period 14 seconds, energy down around 1065. Still clean, but the magic is fading.

Thursday the 27th sees a drop to 3ft, then a shift in the afternoon – wind goes cross from the S at 12 mph, creating some chop. Period spikes to 20 seconds, but the energy is mixed. Not much to write home about.

Friday the 28th brings a pulse: 8ft from the SW, period 16 seconds, energy at 3359. Lighter winds at 9 mph from the SSE, cross-off. This is a solid return for the end of the month.

From Saturday the 29th through Monday the 31st of August, we see a taper. Swell drops from 6ft to 5ft, then a spike on Monday afternoon to 7ft with a long 19-second period and energy at 3754. That late August Monday afternoon actually shapes up sneaky good with clean cross-off winds.

Then September rolls in. Tuesday the 1st holds 8ft from the SW, period 17–18 seconds, energy in the high 3000s. Again, that’s big and powerful – experts only. Wednesday the 2nd afternoon sees lighter 9 mph cross-off with 7ft and a 16-second period, earning another "excellent" mention.

From there, it fades. Thursday the 3rd of September runs 5ft to 6ft, period 14–15 seconds, energy dropping into the 1300s. Still clean, but the punch is gone.

Bottom line: Wednesday the 19th of August afternoon is the real standout – 8ft, 18-second period, light cross-off, strong energy. Thursday the 20th morning is the biggest at 10ft, but that’s expert territory. Later on, Monday the 31st of August afternoon and Tuesday the 1st of September are worth keeping an eye on for another pulse of long-period SW groundswell.

Crowds at Mawi can show up sometimes, so if you want the best, pick your time. This reef loves the long-period SW swell – the big gaps between sets make paddling out easier. Don’t miss it.

Rusty.

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