Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into what the next fortnight has in store for us at Shida.

Alright, first thing’s first – it’s a slow start. The first week is a bit of a write-off, honestly. There’s a lot of wind that’s all kinds of wrong – cross-shore and cross-onshore – and the swell’s just not got any power behind it. The water’s sitting at a pretty warm 79°, just about average for this time of year, so that’s one thing you won’t have to worry about.

We kick off Thursday the 13th with a bit of a lumpy, messy 5ft easterly swell, energy’s moderate at best (454 to 528). With that risk of thunderstorms and onshore breeze, it’s not one to get excited about. This kind of mediocre run hangs around through to Sunday the 16th. There’s a bit more push in the water by Saturday morning with 6ft and energy climbing to 1016, but the moderate cross-shore chop just kills any quality. It’s a frustrating start.

Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are where things start to get interesting. Monday’s still a bit messy with a 7ft easterly swell at 11 seconds. But then Tuesday brings our first real glimmer of hope. A shift to a light southerly offshore breeze on the 18th, with that swell dropping to a clean 4ft from the east. The energy has dropped right back to 268 – weak, but the clean conditions will make it feel better than the numbers suggest. It’s just surfable. Not a standout, but a relief.

From Wednesday the 19th into the following weekend, the swell drops right off. We’re looking at tiny, weak waves, 1ft to 3ft, with not much behind them. The wind does swing offshore a few times – mostly light – so the surface will be clean, but there’s just no grunt. The 21st has a brief 1ft pulse from the southeast at a long 10 seconds, but at that height you’re barely getting a ride. This is a definite lull.

Now, hold onto your board, because the real action kicks off Sunday the 23rd. This is the standout window. Sunday morning we get a proper groundswell arriving from the SSE, pushing 6ft but with a super long 15-second period. The energy jumps to 1243 – strong. And the wind? Gentle offshore from the south. It’s going to be clean and solid. By Sunday afternoon, it gets even better: 6ft from the SE, 14-second period, energy roaring up to 1822. And the wind goes glassy. That is about as good as it gets. The waves will be lined up, powerful, and clean.

Monday the 24th is the absolute peak. We’re looking at 8ft from the SE with a very long 15-second period. Energy is massive at 3288. The wind is glassy again in the morning. This is a serious swell – for experienced surfers only. It’s going to be powerful, with long lulls between sets. This is the one you point your car at. By Monday afternoon, it’s pushing 10ft with a 16-second period. The energy is off the charts at 4658, but at that size it might actually be too big for the break. Definitely one for experts.

Tuesday the 25th is still very large, with 13ft swells and energy over 7000. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a huge, powerful ocean. Only for the brave. After that, the swell slowly eases, dropping back to a still-chunky 8ft on Wednesday the 26th, then fading out through the end of the month. The last days of the forecast, the 27th and 28th, see the swell die back to tiny, knee-high slop, with onshore winds returning.

So if you’re looking for the best of the best, it’s Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th. Sunday afternoon with that glassy offshore wind and 6ft of long-period groundswell is the dream. Monday morning’s 8ft glassy peak is for the crew who know what they’re doing. Get on it.

Rusty.

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