Saaga Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s headed our way.

Straight up, this is a tough stretch for Saaga. We’ve got a solid run of swell days ahead, but the wind is going to be a persistent problem – mostly fresh cross-onshore breezes that will keep things messy and lumpy. The first real window of surf kicks off Wednesday, August 19th, but don’t get too excited just yet.

Wednesday morning we see a 4ft SW groundswell (16-second period) rolling in. That long period suggests some real power, and the combined energy reading is 921 (moderate). But this is a classic reef break that really wants clean conditions, and we’re getting a cross-on SE breeze at 9 mph. It's a frustrating combo: good swell, onshore junk. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for this time of year – nothing unusual there. Expect poor surf through the morning and into the afternoon (5ft, 1032 energy). Not one to get out of bed for.

Thursday, August 20th, the swell jumps up to 7ft on the morning from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds. The energy is cranking at 1825 (strong). But again, the wind is blasting from the SE at 19 mph, fresh cross-onshore and lumpy. This one is pushing into expert-only territory size-wise, but with the messy conditions, it's going to be a battle. The afternoon drops slightly to 5ft, 1501 energy, but the wind picks up to 22 mph – still poor.

Friday, August 21st, brings a weird one. The morning swell is 7ft from the SE but with a short, weak period of 7 seconds. That’s essentially windswell with 1293 energy – powerful enough for the size, but crumbly and unorganized. Wind from the ESE at 22 mph keeps it lumpy. Afternoon goes to 5ft from the S (12 seconds, 1253 energy) with a strong breeze at 25 mph. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one at this point.

Saturday, August 22nd, is the same story – 5ft in the morning (12 seconds, 1518 energy) with strong cross-onshore winds. The afternoon gives us a bigger 8ft from the SSE (15 seconds, 2934 energy – that’s strong stuff), but also 25 mph winds. Again, expert-only if you're brave, but the wind is going to ruin the face.

Sunday, August 23rd, and the swell drops back to 4ft (S, 13 seconds, 1139 energy). Wind is still a fresh SE breeze. The whole week just stays locked in this same pattern.

We go all the way through the end of August and into the first few days of September with nothing breaking the cycle. The wind is either cross-shore or cross-onshore, speeds rarely dropping below 18 mph. The swell heights fluctuate, but the quality never improves. There is a brief notion of a marginal window on Sunday, August 30th – a 6ft ESE groundswell (10 seconds) with cross-shore winds at 12 mph. The energy hits 1053 (moderate) in the afternoon. This is the closest we get to a “maybe,” but even then, it's still just marginal.

The long-range into September 2nd and 3rd shows a 3-4ft SW groundswell returning with longer periods (15-17 seconds), but the wind remains a fresh cross-shore or cross-onshore mess. For the whole 16-day outlook, there is no day where the stars align for Saaga. The wind just won't let up, and the swell direction is always off the optimum SE angle we'd want.

Honestly, this is a blank run for the area. It tends to happen. Forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing I’d recommend paddling out for. Sit this one out.

Rusty.

Read more