Salamumu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, Rusty here. Let’s break down the waves at Salamumu for the next couple weeks. It’s a long outlook with a lot of wind drama, but there’s a window worth pointing out.

Right now, starting Thursday the 20th of August, it’s not looking good. There’s a 6ft swell from the SSW, but a cross-onshore wind at 19 mph is ruining it. The line-up is lumpy and messy. Wave energy is sitting at 1956 (moderate to strong), but you don’t want to be out there. Water temp is 81°, which is about normal for the time of year.

This pattern holds through Friday the 21st, Saturday the 22nd, Sunday the 23rd, and on into Monday the 24th of August. The swell stays between 5ft and 7ft, mostly from the S or SSE, with period hitting 15 seconds on Saturday afternoon. That’s a proper groundswell, but the wind—19-22 mph cross-onshore—keeps the surface ugly. Wave energy ranges from 1000 to 2000 (moderate to strong). Tuesday the 25th sees the size drop to 3-4ft, but it’s still choppy. Wednesday morning the 26th offers a little hope: a 3ft S swell with a 12-second period, and the wind goes cross-shore at 12 mph. Energy is down to 533 (weak to moderate), and it’s marginal at best.

Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th of August bring a risk of thunderstorms, with a 4ft SW swell and 15-16 second period, but cross-onshore winds keep it lumpy.

The real winner comes on Saturday the 29th of August. The morning and afternoon both see the wind shift to the NE at 12 mph—a clean cross-offshore—and for the first time, the line-up goes glassy. The swell is 3ft from the SW with a 14-second period, and wave energy is 684 (weak to moderate). The crowd factor at Salamumu is listed as ‘sometimes’, so it might be a bit social, but with conditions this small and clean, it’ll be a good crew.

Sunday the 30th of August morning is another option, with ENE wind at only 6 mph and a 3ft SW swell with a 13-second period. It’s light and clean, wave energy 332 (weak). Get out on a longboard. The afternoon kills it, though.

After that, it’s grim. Monday the 31st of August is tiny at 2ft and blown out. Tuesday the 1st of September brings a 4ft S swell with a massive 20-second period—very long period—but the wind is screaming at 22 mph cross-shore, making it lumpy. Wave energy 1578 (moderate to strong), but the wind ruins it. Wednesday the 2nd through Friday the 4th of September is more of the same: 5ft to 6ft swell, but cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions.

So the clear standout is Saturday the 29th of August. It’s small at 3ft from the SW with a 14-second period, but the NE cross-offshore wind at 12 mph makes it the only clean session in the whole run. Mark it on your calendar.

Rusty.

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