Salamumu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I’ve gotta be straight with you: the first few days are a write-off. Wednesday afternoon the 8th of July is a total no-go with messy, cross-onshore winds and only a weak 2ft SW swell. The combined energy is a paltry 710 (weak). Nothing to get excited about there.

But hold on, because Thursday morning the 9th of July is our one true standout. The swell jumps to a solid 6ft from the SW with a very long period of 17 seconds, packing some serious grunt (combined energy of 2371). That’s proper groundswell. And the wind? Light and offshore from the ENE, which will leave the reef at Salamumu looking glassy and clean. This is the kind of session that makes the whole week worth it. The water is a warm 82°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Keep in mind, with that long period, the sets will be fat and powerful, and there will be longer lulls between them. This is excellent surf, but it’s definitely for experienced surfers only.

Thursday afternoon gets a bit sketchy with a storm risk and a light cross-onshore breeze. The swell is still solid at 7ft (combined energy 2724), but the wind will put a ripple on the face. It’s still a big, powerful ocean, but not as clean as the morning.

From Friday the 10th through to the end of the first week, the wind locks in from the south at 12 mph, blowing directly onshore. The swell holds around 5ft to 7ft, but it’s just going to be a messy, blown-out affair. The combined energy (1154 to 1937) is moderate to strong, but the quality is gone. It’s not worth paddling out for a beating.

The second week is a long, frustrating stretch. From Sunday the 12th right through to Sunday the 19th, it’s a near-constant stream of cross-onshore winds from the SE and SSE, often 15 to 28 mph. There are a few days with some size – like Saturday the 18th with 6ft from the SSE (combined energy 2250) – but the wind is a strong breeze, making it a lumpy, messy, strong cross-onshore mess. That’s not surf; that’s a kite session waiting to happen.

We finally get a glimmer of hope right at the tail end. Tuesday the 21st of July morning sees the wind drop to a light 6 mph ESE breeze, becoming cross-shore. The swell is a modest 3ft from the SE, period 12 seconds, with the combined energy at 871 (weak). It’s questionable, but with a light breeze and a cross-shore angle, it might just be rideable. Wednesday the 22nd morning also looks marginal with a clean light wind and a 3ft SW long-period swell, but it’s a cross-onshore angle again.

Overall, it’s a one-hit-wonder forecast. Thursday morning the 9th is the absolute call. The rest of the window is mostly blown out or too weak. If you’re not on it that morning, you’re waiting a long time for a maybe on the 21st.

Rusty.

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