Sakawa River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking for the Sakawa River. This is a river break, fairly exposed to the southeast, and it really needs the right combo to get good. There’s a quiet start, but things will build.

The first real window opens Monday, July 6. It’s not big – a 2ft swell from the southeast with a long 14-second period – but the conditions are the key. Monday morning has a light cross breeze, but the standout is Monday afternoon: that swell bumps to 3ft, same long period, and the wind goes glassy. That’s butter-smooth water, perfect for a longboard glide.

Tuesday, July 7, is the best of the whole outlook. The morning brings a 3ft SSE swell with a very long 15-second period and a clean, offshore breeze from the north-northeast. The energy is building. Then Tuesday afternoon, the wind goes glassy again with a 4ft SSE swell and 15-second period. This will be the cleanest, fun-est surf of the week. That offshore wind on Tuesday morning is a rare treat for this spot.

Now, from Wednesday, July 8, through the weekend, it gets bigger but uglier. The swell builds to 5ft on Wednesday, hits 7ft on Thursday, and peaks at 8ft on Friday, July 10, from the south with very long 17-second periods. But the wind turns cross-onshore and stays there. The energy is massive, but that chop and onshore texture will turn it into a mess. At 8ft, this is for experts only. For a river break with that much power and a cross-onshore breeze, I’d say this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The swell is also coming from the south-southwest, which is not the ideal southeast direction for the river.

By Sunday, July 12, it is fading and sloppy. Swell drops to 5ft and then 3ft with onshore winds. Not worth the drive. Then we hit a long, flat stretch from Monday, July 13, through Friday, July 17. Swell is tiny, under 3ft, with mostly poor conditions. A little light on Thursday morning, July 16, with a 3ft south swell and glassy wind, but the period is short at 9 seconds, making for weak, crumbly waves.

Saturday, July 18, shows a pulse of 5ft from the east-southeast, but the period remains short and the onshore wind ruins it. Another dry spell until Sunday, July 19, with a 3ft easterly swell and a clean cross-offshore wind from the north-northeast at 12 mph. Not big, but clean enough to check if you’re desperate.

The only true standout in this 16-day window is Tuesday, July 7. The morning session with a clean 3ft SSE swell and offshore wind, and the afternoon with glassy 4ft waves. That is the best combo of size, period, and wind you’ll get.

The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild, so your usual spring suit will do for Tuesday.

So, summary: a slow start, a beautiful clean window on Tuesday the 7th, then it gets big and lumpy before a long flat spell. The river needs that southeast swell and light or offshore winds, and Tuesday is the day.

Keep your eye on it, but don’t hold your breath for the rest.

- Rusty

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