Sakawa River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the Sakawa River stretch for the next couple of weeks. First thing: the water is sitting at about 82°, which is a degree warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like a hot tub.

The first few days, from Saturday the 29th through Monday the 31st of August, are a total dud. Tiny swell, messy wind, and just poor conditions. Don’t bother.

Tuesday the 1st of September shows a slight pulse. The morning goes glassy with a 2ft swell from the east, period at 12 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is moderate at 149. It’s clean, but the waves are still very ordinary. Ankle-high stuff for beginners.

A few more average days follow. Wednesday and Thursday offer small waves with cross-onshore winds. Thursday the 3rd has a glassy morning with 2ft from the south, but the period is short at 9 seconds, so not much push.

The first real standout pops up on Sunday the 7th of September. The afternoon brings a 5ft swell from the east-southeast, 10-second period, and strong combined energy of 501. The wind is cross-off from the north-northeast, keeping it clean. This is the first “good surf conditions” note. Waist-to-chest high, clean, and with some power.

The action continues into Monday the 8th with similar size, but the wind shifts more cross-shore, so Sunday is the better session.

Then we hit the best wave of the whole outlook on Wednesday the 10th of September. The morning is glassy with a 5ft swell from the east-southeast, period at 13 seconds, and combined energy pumping at 593. That’s a strong groundswell with dead calm wind. This is the one. A bit overhead for beginners, but for intermediates and up, it’s firing. The long period (13 seconds) means good shape and power, though at a river mouth it can run a bit straight along the sandbars.

After that, the swell drops off. The rest of the second week – Thursday the 11th through Sunday the 13th – is back to small, weak, or onshore conditions. There’s a glassy Saturday morning with 3ft from the southeast, but it’s ordinary.

The final standout is that same Wednesday the 10th morning. Crowds at Sakawa River are listed as “sometimes,” so on a good swell like that, expect a few heads out, but not a zoo.

Bottom line: The first week is a wash. Circle Sunday the 7th of September afternoon and especially Wednesday the 10th of September morning. That glassy groundswell Wednesday is the real deal.

Rusty, out.

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