Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it for Shida.

We've got a bit of a mixed bag on the cards. The first week is pretty grim, with strong onshore winds and a lot of rain messing up the waves. But, there’s a serious pulse of energy coming through later in the period that’ll make things interesting, though it’ll be way too big for this spot. We’ll have a small window of clean conditions at the very end if you’re patient.

Looking at the immediate week, from Sunday the 13th, we start off small. The afternoon sees clean 2ft surf from the ESE, with that 13-second period giving it some shape. But it’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a non-stop party. The water temperature is sitting at 79°, bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Monday the 14th goes downhill fast. A strong SSW wind kicks up, and while the swell hangs around 2ft to 3ft, the conditions are poor. Tuesday and Wednesday are even worse with rain and onshore winds turning things lumpy. By Thursday the 17th, the swell builds but it's a messy 6ft with a short, weak period of only 6-7 seconds – that’s pure wind-chop.

The real story starts on Friday the 18th into the following week. The combined swell energy ramps up massively, from 703 on Friday morning to a massive 2460 that afternoon, but the wind is all wrong. Then from the 19th to the 22nd, we’re looking at a monster swell. We’re talking 10ft up to a terrifying 23ft with combined energy readings over 20,000. This is huge, powerful groundswell with periods stretching to 14 seconds. For an exposed spot like Shida, this is way out of the beginner zone and even too big for most intermediate surfers; this is expert territory only, and even then it’s going to be a washout. It’s a real shame because the wind on Saturday the 19th and Monday the 21st is actually offshore, but the size makes it unsurfable here.

After that massive pulse passes, Wednesday the 23rd through Friday the 25th is a write-off with onshore winds and weak, short-period slop. However, there’s a little glimmer on Friday the 25th afternoon. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the ENE, but the real win is that glassy wind. It’ll be clean, but that 7-second period is still pretty short so don’t expect a ton of power.

The absolute standout is clear as day for the final weekend. Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th are your best bets. On Saturday morning the 27th, we’ve got head-high 8ft swell from the ENE, but with glassy conditions it’s going to be clean. The combined energy is a solid 1168, meaning there’s some real push. That’s excellent for experienced surfers, but the longer period (8 seconds) might make it a little tricky on the beach break. The real gem is Sunday the 28th. The wind goes clean offshore from the SSW with a 5ft to 7ft swell from the SSE/SE. The period jumps up to 14 seconds, which is proper groundswell with heaps of energy (over 2100). This will produce the best shaped, most powerful waves of the whole outlook, but remember, that longer period can make it close out on a beach break, so look for a peak that handles the juice. Crowds are likely here on days like this.

All in all, if you're an expert and don't mind the risk of the big stuff, the week of the 19th is a spectacle, but for a proper surf, hold out for that stellar Sunday the 28th.

Rusty.

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