Sakawa River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s coming up for the Sakawa River.

First thing you need to know: the river mouth is running flat for the first week. There’s no surf worth even paddling out for through to the end of July. The water temp is sitting at a very normal 79°, so that’s not the issue. The problem is a total lack of size and energy. The combined energy is barely hitting 39 (weak) and swell heights are stuck around 0.7 ft to 1 ft. Winds are light and mornings are mostly glassy, but with no swell, glass just means a flat, pretty lake. Tuesday morning the 21st is glassy and clean, but the wave height is a pathetic 0.7 ft with a long period of 11 seconds, meaning it’s just a gentle groundswell that won’t break properly here. Even the afternoons with a bit more wind are just ripples.

We do get a little pulse of energy on the 27th of July. The combined energy climbs to 220 (moderate) and the swell hits 2 ft from the SE on Monday morning with glassy wind. The guidance says there’s surfable waves but very ordinary conditions, so it’s a tiny step up, but nothing to get excited about.

Now, the real standout is Tuesday the 28th of July. You want to be in the water first thing. Morning glass, the swell jumps to 6 ft from the S, with a period of 14 seconds, and the combined energy is a meaty 1361 (strong). The guidance says excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers, and that’s spot on. At 6 ft, this is too big for beginners, but for an intermediate surfer, this is the best run of the forecast. The wind is glassy, so the river mouth will be clean. The swell direction is S, which is not the optimum SE direction, but at this size and period, it’ll still push in nicely. Expect some long lines and proper sets. The afternoon on the 28th gets a bit messy with cross-onshore wind and a chance of storms, so hit the morning session.

Wednesday the 29th is also a good call. Another glassy morning, 6 ft from the SSW with a 14-second period, and combined energy of 1132 (strong). The guidance says expect very good surf conditions, and with glassy wind, it’s going to be a solid follow-up day. The afternoon holds the same quality with glassy wind again, so you get a full day of fun.

After that, things drop off. Thursday the 30th goes marginal, with 3 ft to 5 ft and cross-onshore wind. The energy is still moderate but the quality drops. Then Friday the 31st gets wild. The swell jumps to 10 ft in the morning and 15 ft in the afternoon from the S, with a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy in the afternoon is a massive 11271 (very strong). That is a serious, heavy river mouth wave. The guidance says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, and I’d agree. At 15 ft, you’d need to be a top-tier expert, and even then, the river mouth setup will be a washing machine. The wind is cross-offshore, which is clean, but the size is just too much for the break. This is more of a situation for the experienced big-wave crew only, and even then, it’s a maybe.

The first week of August sees a steady decline. Saturday the 1st has a 7 ft to 8 ft swell but with fresh onshore winds and heavy rain, it’s messy and not recommended. By Sunday the 2nd, it’s back to 4 ft with weak energy, and by Monday the 3rd, it’s practically flat again.

So, to sum it up: the best surfing is Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th of July. That’s your window. Get the Sakawa River early, enjoy the glass, and enjoy the strong, clean S swell. The rest of the forecast is a mix of flat, too big, or too messy.

Rusty.

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