Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you right off the bat: the next couple of weeks are going to be a real mixed bag here at Yonabaru. We’ve got a lot of flat, small days to wade through before the ocean finally wakes up.

Right now, we are looking at a long, quiet stretch. From Sunday the 26th all the way through to Monday the 3rd of August, the surf is pretty much a no-go. We’re talking tiny waves, mostly between 1ft and 1ft from the southeast. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting in the double digits (30 to 42 range). It’s not worth paddling out for. The water temperature right now is about 85°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least it’s warm while you wait.

Then things start to shift. On Monday the 3rd of August, we get a glimmer of hope. The afternoon sees a jump to 2ft from the ESE, and the combined energy climbs to 236 – still moderate, but it’s a change. The period jumps to a very long 15 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. That means better shaped waves, but at a beach break like Yonabaru, that long period can make ‘em close out a bit. Still, the wind goes glassy, so the conditions will be clean. It’s just a tease, really. The score is low, so don’t get too excited.

Tuesday the 4th of August is where we start to see some real potential. Morning brings clean, glassy conditions with 4ft of ESE swell from the east-southeast. The combined energy is a solid 658, so the ocean has some push. The period is a very long 16 seconds again. This is the first standout window for the more experienced crew – the waves will have some punch and shape. By the afternoon, it bumps up to 4ft with 939 energy, but the wind goes light cross-shore, creating a little chop on the face. Not perfect, but surfable.

Wednesday the 5th sees the swell building further. Morning has 5ft from the ESE, with combined energy hitting 1382 – solidly moderate to strong. However, we’ve got a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-onshore wind, which will mess with the surface. This size is starting to push past the beginner zone. The afternoon is similar, but the wind gets stronger from the NE, making it choppier.

Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th of August the swell keeps pumping. Thursday has 6ft to 6ft from the east, with energy climbing to 1843. Friday morning sees 8ft from the east, and by Friday afternoon it’s a solid 10ft with a massive 5221 energy reading. The period is a very long 18 seconds. This is expert territory for sure. The wind is cross-onshore though, keeping it from being totally clean. This is big, powerful ocean.

The real wild card – and the absolute standout – is Saturday the 8th of August. The morning has a huge 13ft east swell, with an enormous combined energy of 8977 – that’s strong wave energy. But here’s the catch: the wind is blowing from the WNW at 16 mph, which is clean cross-offshore. This will groom the faces beautifully. The problem is, as the file says, the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a beast. The afternoon is the same story: 13ft from the east, 18-second period, and a solid 19 mph WNW wind – that’s a proper offshore wind. The combined energy hits 10513. It looks insane, but it’s a serious, serious mission. If you are a seasoned charger, this is the day. For everyone else, it’s a spectator sport.

Sunday the 9th of August drops back to 8ft and then 5ft from the ENE. The wind stays cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but the wave energy is down to 3512. Monday the 10th sees messy, onshore conditions with a 7ft NNE swell, but the wind is cross-on and choppy, so it’s not one to mark on the calendar.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is flat. The real action kicks in around Tuesday the 4th of August. The absolute best bang for your buck, considering both size and conditions, is probably the glassy morning of Tuesday the 4th with 4ft of clean, long-period swell. But if you can handle big, gnarly surf, Saturday the 8th of August is the big kahuna. Just know your limits.

Rusty.

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