Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next 16 days for the Shida zone. The water is sitting at 81°F which is a touch warmer than you’d expect for this time of year, so that’s a nice bonus.

The Big Picture: Don’t get your hopes up too early. We’ve got a massive, long-period swell (16-17 seconds) rolling in over the next few days, but it’s coming with strong cross-onshore winds that are going to wreck the surface. The wave energy is strong to very strong (2159-8427 combined energy), but the quality is just poor. This is a stretch of surf that’s going to be blown out and lumpy. From Monday, August 3rd, right through the middle of the following week, we’re looking at a lot of "poor surf conditions" flags. The first few days are a write-off.

Then We Get a Window: The first true glimmer happens on Thursday, August 6th. The morning shows a big 12 ft swell from the SSE, but the wind is cleaner. The issue here is that the swell is predicted to be too big for the break. The afternoon is a bit better, with a clean cross-offshore breeze, but still, waves are around 12 ft. That’s expert territory. The wave energy is still very strong (6907).

The Standout Window: The best bet on offer is actually a couple of days later. On Wednesday, August 12th, things finally come together. The swell drops to a more manageable 6 ft in the morning, coming from the E with a 12-second period. The wind is light and cross-offshore, making for clean conditions. The wave energy is moderate (1074). This is genuine clean surf. The afternoon stays good: 7 ft from the ESE, still clean. This is the day to be in the water, but crowds are likely at Shida.

The Late Period: The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell hangs around, mostly in the 5 ft to 8 ft range, but the wind keeps swinging cross-onshore or cross, making it choppy or marginal. There’s a brief moment on Friday, August 14th, with an 8 ft E swell and moderate cross-shore conditions, but it’s just a "marginal" call. The energy is moderate (3507) but the wind isn't quite cooperating.

Bottom Line: If you’re a beginner, this whole 16-day run is a tough one. The swell is often too big (over 5 ft for most of it), and the wind is rarely your friend. For the experienced crew, Wednesday, August 12th is your clear target. The rest is mostly a waiting game.

Rusty.

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