Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Shida. The forecast is a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s some real quality to be had if you time it right.

The pattern starts off with some solid, clean swell, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. The first one to get your eye on is Thursday afternoon, the 6th of August. We’ve got a 7ft swell straight out of the SSE, with a long 12-second period pushing a heap of energy in (1730). The water’s a chilly 75°F, which is a full 4°F colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a decent steamer. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, keeping things clean. This is proper experienced surfer territory at that size. It’s an inconsistent break, so you’ll be waiting for the sets, but when they come, they’ll be worth it. Crowds can show up, so keep that in mind.

Friday morning, the 7th, drops a touch to 6ft from the S, still with that lovely 12-second period. The energy is through the roof (1268), and the wind holds cross-offshore. Excellent conditions again for the experienced crew. That afternoon, the wind goes properly offshore, and the swell holds at 5ft (1029 energy). Clean, offshore, and punchy – that’s a beautiful window.

Saturday the 8th sees the swell back off a bit to 4ft in the morning, rising to 4ft in the afternoon from the ESE with a 13-second period. The energy is still moderate (616 and 955), and the wind is light and cross-offshore. The conditions are clean, making for a very good day, though it’s on the smaller side.

Sunday the 9th is a bit of a let-down. The swell is still 6ft from the ESE, but the wind swings cross-shore and picks up, putting a chop on the surface. The forecast is marginal for the morning and poor by the afternoon.

Then it all goes a bit ugly. From Monday the 10th right through to Saturday the 15th, the wind is a mess – strong, cross-onshore, onshore, and lumpy. The swell is all over the place, from 6ft up to 8ft, but the conditions are just poor. The combined energy hits a massive 2415 on Monday afternoon, but with that wind, it’s a washing machine. This stretch is a write-off for paddling, and honestly, that heavy, wind-affected swell at a beach setup might be more interesting for the kite surfers than anyone else.

We get a glimmer of hope on Friday the 14th. The morning shows a clean 7ft from the E with a 12-second period and a cross-offshore breeze (1274 energy). That’s excellent for experienced surfers again, but it’s a brief window before the wind swings messy in the afternoon.

The following week, from the 17th of August onwards, the swell drops and the winds become much lighter. The energy is lower (down to 357 and 323), but the conditions are clean. The 19th of August is a standout for the lighter crowd. Wednesday morning has a 5ft swell from the ESE with a light offshore wind (553 energy), and the afternoon holds 6ft with a gentle offshore breeze (627 energy). The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s a windswell, but it’ll be clean and fun. The 20th and 21st keep that same vibe: 6ft from the ESE, light offshore winds, and clean conditions. For the second week, that’s your best bet – smaller, cleaner, and more manageable for intermediates.

Overall, the first week has some excellent, powerful windows for the experienced surfer, but the middle of the period is a complete no-go. The last few days settle into a clean, smaller pattern that’s more inviting for everyone.

Rusty.

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