Okuragahama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here for the Okuragahama report. We’ve got a strange run ahead, with a lot of energy but not much quality at first, then a couple of real windows where it all comes together.

Right now, the water’s a touch warmer than normal, sitting at 85°, which is a bit above average for this time of year.

The first few days are pretty flat for surf. Saturday morning you’ve got tiny 1ft SE swell, glassy but no wave to ride. That’s the pattern for the weekend – small, clean, but hardly breaking. The real story starts next week. From Sunday morning, a long-period groundswell builds from the ESE, 2ft at 16 seconds, but only the morning session is glassy. By Sunday afternoon the wind swings onshore and it’s messy again.

Monday morning the swell jumps to 5ft ESE, still long period at 16 seconds, but the wind is cross-shore, and the combined energy is strong (1236). It’s marginal-quality, a bit lumpy. Tuesday sees the swell push to 8ft, then 10ft, with a long 17-18 second period and combined energy jumping into the thousands (4463 to 5285). The wind is cross-onshore and fairly choppy, so it’s messy and big – this is expert-only territory, and honestly, the wind is wrecking the shape.

Wednesday morning on the 5th of August is the standout of this whole run. Swell is 16ft from the ESE, 17 seconds – that’s a massive groundswell, very long period, so it’s going to be straight and fast at Okuragahama, a point break. Combined energy is through the roof (14633). The wind is moderate cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the best we see all week. By Wednesday afternoon, the swell hits 20ft, cross-shore, energy at 20886 – but it’s too big for this break, really only for the brave and experienced. Thursday and Friday are even bigger, 28ft and 23ft, but the wind is fresh cross-onshore, lumpy, and dangerous. The forecast says it’s too big for this spot, and I’d agree. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

Then it all drops off. Friday the 8th of August morning the swell crashes to 8ft, but the wind is fresh cross-onshore, and the combined energy is 3141. That’s a hard pass. For the next several days, from the 8th through the 12th, it’s poor, onshore, lumpy, and not worth paddling for. There’s a gap of about four days where you’d be better off checking the wind forecast.

The next real chance comes on the 13th of August – Thursday morning has 5ft from the E, 13 seconds, light cross-onshore, marginal. But Thursday afternoon is the glassy gem: 4ft E, 12 seconds, glassy, combined energy 630, and the forecast says very good surf conditions. That’s a window. Friday morning the 14th is also glassy, with 3ft E, 12 seconds, energy 478, decent for a fun, clean session on a point break.

The best of the second week is the 15th of August – Saturday morning 5ft E, 13 seconds, glassy, excellent for experienced surfers, combined energy 1073. And then Sunday the 16th morning: 7ft E, 13 seconds, glassy, 1634 energy, and the forecast says excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the standout of the later run. The swell direction is right on the optimum for Okuragahama, and with glassy conditions, it’ll be clean. Afternoon on those days turns onshore and marginal, so hit the early sessions.

Bottom line: Wednesday the 5th is the big one for the brave, and Sunday the 16th morning is the pick for a cleaner, less intimidating session. Keep an eye on the 13th and 14th for smaller, glassy windows.

Rusty.

Read more