Sakawa River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The river mouth is the only game in town, and honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead.

We kick off on Friday morning, August 7th, with a solid 6ft south swell, a 12-second period, and a decent amount of energy (1240). The wind is light from the southeast, but it’s onshore, so the surface isn’t going to be that clean. It’s a bit of a mixed bag – the size is there, but the quality is questionable. The water temperature is 80°, which is bang on average for this time of year. That’s about as normal as it gets.

Through the rest of that first week, the swell drops off fast. Saturday morning sees 4ft, but the wind swings more southerly, and it’s cross-onshore, making it choppy. The energy drops to 436. Sunday and Monday are small, with 3ft and 3ft, and the wind stays messy. The period is long (13 seconds on Sunday), which is a good sign for shape, but the wind is just not cooperating. It’s frustrating, because the river mouth could handle that swell, but the conditions are poor.

Tuesday through Thursday of the second week are a write-off. Swell drops to 2ft, energy is weak (162 down to 118), and the wind is all over the place. Even though we get some clean, cross-off winds on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, the swell is just too small to do anything with. The period is still decent, around 11-12 seconds, but there’s no power behind it.

The one real standout in the whole 16 days is Thursday afternoon, August 13th. The swell bumps up a touch to 3ft, from the ESE, with a 12-second period. The wind is cross-off from the north, which will keep it clean. The energy is 298, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s your best window. It’s a small, clean, fun-size wave. If you’re an intermediate, this is the time to paddle out. The river mouth will be working, but with that long period, it might be a bit straight, so pick your bank.

After that, the swell tries to climb again on Saturday, August 15th, hitting 4ft, but the wind turns cross-shore and it gets choppy. The energy is 389, but the quality isn’t there. The rest of the month is a slow fade, with tiny 1ft to 2ft waves and very ordinary conditions. By Friday, August 21st, we get a couple of glassy mornings, but the swell is tiny (2ft) and the period is short (9 seconds). It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about.

Overall, it’s a tough run. The first week has size but bad wind, the second week has better wind but no swell. The only proper window is that Thursday afternoon, August 13th. If you’re keen, that’s your shot. The rest of the time, you’re either fighting chop or staring at flat water. It’s a dry spell, but it’s not unusual for this area. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Stay salty.
Rusty

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