Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for our stretch of coast.

Honestly, for the next week and a half, it’s looking pretty grim. We’re staring down a long, flat spell with nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is a mess, mostly cross-onshore or worse, and the swell is tiny with weak energy. There's a real dry spell from now until around the 19th of August, with barely a ripple to get excited about.

The one bright spot on the horizon, and it’s a distant one, is the end of the third week. Things start to rumble back to life around Thursday the 21st of August. The swell builds quickly, and by the Friday morning the 22nd, we’re looking at a solid 7ft of swell from the E. The energy is ramping up big time, with a combined energy reading of 663 (moderate). By Friday afternoon, it’s pumping with 10ft from the ESE and a period of 11 seconds, packing a whopping 1789 in energy (strong). That is serious power.

But here’s the catch, and it’s a big one. This is all aimed at Yonabaru, a fairly exposed beginner spot. When you get waves over 8ft, that’s expert territory, and this swell peaks right in that zone. The wind is howling onshore or cross-onshore at 18-25 mph, turning it into a washing machine. For a beach break, with that much wind and power, it’s going to be a messy, choppy mess. Honestly, that setup looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The water temp is sitting at a warm 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, but you won’t be feeling it in that wind.

So, the takeaway? We’ve got a whole lot of nothing, then a big, wind-affected pulse of swell that’s going to be too wild for most. The best on offer is technically that Friday the 22nd and Saturday the 23rd, but it’s an expert-only, windy, and messy proposition. Keep your expectations low, and maybe give this one a miss unless you're a glutton for punishment and have a kite.

Rusty.

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