Salamumu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty. Alright, let’s have a proper look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks down at Salamumu. I’ve got to be straight with you – we’ve got a run of tricky conditions ahead, but there are a couple of windows where it could get interesting.

Right now, the water temp is sitting at a pretty warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first thing you’ll notice is that there’s no real surf worth paddling out for today, Friday the 4th. The wind is howling out of the ESE at 22 mph, cross-onshore, and the swell is a messy 4 ft south-swell, but it’s got a really long 17-second period. The combined energy is a solid 1656 (moderate), but the wind is just ruining it. It’s lumpy and choppy – not worth your time.

Saturday the 5th isn’t much better. The wind eases a touch to 16–19 mph from the ESE, still cross-shore or cross-on, with a 5 ft to 5 ft south swell. The period is still long at 15–16 seconds, so there’s plenty of energy (1587 to 1872 combined), but the sea state is messy with cross-chop. This is a marginal day at best – you’d be battling for a half-decent wave.

That pattern keeps up right through the first week. Sunday the 6th is a write-off with fresh cross-onshore winds again. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are pretty similar – the swell direction swings to the SW, but the ESE wind keeps blowing cross-on, making things lumpy. The combined energy drops a bit, but the wind is the killer.

We get a little glimmer on Thursday the 10th, with the afternoon session offering a cleaner window. The wind goes cross-off from the ENE at 12 mph, and the swell is a small 3 ft from the SW, with a 14-second period. The combined energy is only 456 (weak), but the conditions are described as clean. That’s your best bet for a sneaky session this week – small, clean, but you’ll be on a log or a fish.

The weekend of the 12th and 13th isn’t shaping up well. Saturday the 12th is still messy with cross-shore winds, and Sunday the 13th sees a big jump in swell energy, with a 5 ft to 7 ft SW swell pumping in with a very long 20–21 second period. The combined energy hits 3014 to 3703 (strong), but the wind is howling cross-on at 16–22 mph from the SE. That’s a lot of power, but it’s going to be a lumpy, blown-out mess. Not the one.

Now, into the second week, we finally get a standout. Wednesday the 16th is your best call. The wind swings around to the ENE and then NNE at 12 mph, going cross-off, and the conditions are clean. The swell is a solid 5 ft from the SW, with a 14–15 second period, and the combined energy is 1161 to 1191 (moderate). This is the pick of the whole forecast – clean, cross-off winds, and a decent groundswell. Salamumu is a reef break, so that long-period SW swell will wrap in nicely, and the cross-off wind will keep the face clean. It’s an advanced spot, and crowds are sometimes there, so expect a few others to have the same idea. This is the one to circle.

After that, Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th look pretty average again, with rain and onshore winds returning. The swell drops off, and the conditions go back to lumpy and poor.

The last weekend, Saturday the 19th, offers a bit of hope with a 5 ft south swell and 15-second period, but the wind is cross-on from the SE at 12 mph. The combined energy is 1791 (moderate), but it’s marginal at best – it could be a fun afternoon if the wind eases, but I wouldn’t bank on it.

So, the long and short of it: the first week is mostly a washout with onshore winds. The standout is Wednesday the 16th – clean, cross-off, and a solid 5 ft SW groundswell. That’s your window. The rest of the time, you’re either fighting the wind or dealing with small, messy surf. Keep an eye on the forecast, because things can change, but for now, mark that Wednesday in your diary.

Rusty.

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