Sakawa River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Sakawa River over the next couple of weeks.

We’re in for a bit of a mixed bag, and honestly, the first few days are nothing to write home about. The surf is there, but it’s a bit average to start. The real standout window is going to be the middle of next week, when the river mouth really starts to pump.

The action kicks off on Sunday, August 2nd, but it’s a quiet start. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the ESE with a very long period of 16 seconds, but the wind is a cross-on from the ENE at 6 mph, so it’s a bit messy. The combined energy is weak (539) and the conditions are marginal. Honestly, not worth paddling out for.

Monday, August 3rd, sees the swell build a little. The morning brings a 6ft ESE swell, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore from the NE at 12 mph, creating a cross-chop. The energy is moderate (1386). The afternoon cleans up nicely with a cross-off wind from the NNE, making the 6ft SE swell look clean. It’s still a bit marginal, but the afternoon looks better.

Tuesday, August 4th, the morning is the best of the early week. Clear skies, a 8ft SE swell, and a clean cross-off wind from the NE at 12 mph. The combined energy is strong (3862). The waves are getting solid, but that’s right on the edge of being too big for beginners. The afternoon, however, turns ugly with a 10ft swell and a cross-on breeze from the ENE at 16 mph, making for messy, choppy conditions.

Now, Wednesday, August 5th, is where it gets interesting, but there’s a big caveat. The swell jumps to 12ft from the SSE with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy is very strong (5884). The wind is clean and cross-off from the NE in the morning, staying clean through the afternoon. The forecast notes say the wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is expert-only territory. Long period groundswell like this, at 12ft, will be a powerful, surging beast at the river mouth. Not for the faint of heart.

Thursday, August 6th, keeps the energy high with a 12ft SSE swell, but the wind goes cross-shore from the NE, creating a chop. The energy is still very strong (6274). The swell is still too big for most, and the wind isn’t helping.

The swell starts to drop on Friday, August 7th, down to 8ft from the S, but it’s still a cross-on wind from the E at 6 mph. The energy is moderate (2543). It’s a step down in size, but the conditions are still marginal.

The following weekend, August 8th and 9th, the swell drops off significantly. The river goes quiet, with small, weak swells and onshore winds. It’s a write-off.

We then hit a real flat spell. From Monday, August 10th, through to Wednesday, August 12th, the swell is tiny and the energy is weak. The river is barely moving. You’re looking at a gap of several days with no real surf to speak of.

Then, on Thursday, August 13th, the river wakes up again. The afternoon session is the real hidden gem. We’ve got a 6ft ESE swell, and the wind goes glassy from the W at 3 mph. The combined energy is moderate (752). The forecast says to expect very good surf conditions. This is the one to circle. Clean, glassy, and the river mouth should be offering up some nice, clean lines.

Friday, August 14th, the swell holds at 6ft from the ESE, but the wind goes cross-shore from the SW, making it a bit choppy. Still a decent option but not as clean as the day before.

The last weekend of the forecast, August 15th and 16th, sees the swell drop again, with onshore winds and poor conditions. The window is closing.

So, to sum it up: The standout is the afternoon of Thursday, August 13th at the Sakawa River. That glassy, 6ft SE swell will be the cleanest and most user-friendly wave of the whole run. The morning of Tuesday, August 4th is a solid second choice for a bigger, clean wave, but it’s for more experienced surfers. The Wednesday, August 5th swell is just too big for the river.

Remember, the river mouth can be a fickle beast. It’s fairly consistent, but it needs the right conditions. These long period swells, while powerful, can sometimes break a bit straight at a river mouth, but when the wind is off, it’s a treat.

Rusty.

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