Sakawa River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the Sakawa River has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, the start of this period is a bit of a dud. We've got a lot of days with minimal, weak swell and messy winds, so don't expect much until we get deeper into the forecast.

Looking at the overall pattern, there’s a real standout on the horizon. The best bet by a long shot is shaping up for Saturday, September 21st, on the morning session. We're looking at a clean 4ft swell pushing in from the SSW with an 11-second period. The wind is forecast to be glassy – absolutely dead calm – which is a massive positive. This will result in clean, smooth waves at the river mouth. The combined energy is moderate (479), suggesting there's some real push behind it. For a river break, that long-period groundswell should wrap in nicely, offering better shaped waves with longer gaps between sets, making the paddle out a bit easier. Water temps are around 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so you won't need the thick rubber.

Now, the other day that has some potential is Tuesday, September 22nd, but with a serious caveat. The morning is looking glassy again with a 5ft S swell, but a short period of 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit fat and less powerful. The real issue is the afternoon: the swell is forecast to jump to a massive 12ft from the south with a combined energy of 1679. That's strong. While the wind is light, that size is simply too big for this break and is really only for experts, if anyone at all. The data suggests it'll be too big for this spot, so I'd be very cautious.

Aside from those two windows, the rest of the two weeks looks pretty bleak. From now until the 19th, we've got tiny swells, mostly under 3ft, with weak energy (values under 112) and poor wind directions keeping the surface messy. There's a brief window on the afternoon of Friday, September 19th where the swell bumps up to 8ft from the SE with a strong 2180 energy reading, but the wind is cross-off and moderate. It's a big, powerful swell, but the quality is marginal at best for this spot.

After the 22nd, it drops right off again. From the 23rd through to the 27th, we're looking at a mix of onshore winds and tiny, weak swell, so you can pretty much write that week off for any decent waves. The very last day, Monday, September 28th, shows some promise with a clean 5ft SE groundswell (13 secs) and light offshore winds from the west. The combined energy is a solid 870, which is moderate to strong. That could be a nice end to the run, but it's a long way out.

So to sum it up: don't bother paddling out until next weekend. Your window is Saturday morning, September 21st for the cleanest, most user-friendly waves of the forecast. That's your standout. If you're an expert and feel like a challenge, you could look at the 22nd, but be aware of the size. Otherwise, it's a waiting game.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

Read more