Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening at Yonabaru over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but there’s a payoff if you’re patient.

Right now, the water temp is sitting at a warm 83.7°, which is pretty much spot on for the time of year. The problem is, we’ve got a stretch of poor surf ahead. For the first few days, from Sunday the 16th through to Wednesday the 19th of August, it’s all onshore wind and weak, junky little waves. That ESE to E wind is just chopping everything up. The combined energy is low, bouncing around 67 to 134 (weak to moderate), and the wave heights are tiny – 1.6ft to 2.0ft. Not worth paddling out.

Things start to look a bit bigger but still messy on the 18th and 19th, with a jump in swell up to 4.6ft to 8.2ft, but the period drops to a short, weak 6 to 8 seconds, and the wind is still blowing onshore at 19 mph. Combined energy hits a strong 844 (strong) on Wednesday afternoon, but it’s just blown-out slop. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing right now.

Thursday the 20th of August is where it gets interesting. The morning is the standout for the first week. We’ve got a solid 8.2ft swell coming from the SE, with a 10-second period. That’s a nice, powerful groundswell. The wind is light, from the SSW at 9 mph, which is clean and cross-offshore. The combined energy is pumping at 1203 (very strong). This is a real chance. The only catch is the “risk tstorm” forecast – keep an eye on the sky. This is going to be a proper session for experienced surfers, as 8.2ft is getting up there. The swell direction from the ESE matches the spot’s optimum NE direction reasonably well. Crowds are just “sometimes” here, so you might get a few out, but it won’t be a circus.

That morning session on the 20th is the real highlight before the energy drops off. By the afternoon, the swell crashes down to 2.3ft and it’s over.

After that, we hit a dry spell. Friday the 21st through to Monday the 24th of August is almost flat, with small 1.0ft to 3.6ft waves but poor wind and very low energy – mostly under 100 (weak). There’s a pulse of longer-period swell on the 24th (15 to 16 seconds) with 3.3ft to 3.6ft, giving moderate energy (473 to 604), but the wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s a bit bumpy.

Onto the second week. Tuesday the 25th of August sees a jump in swell up to 5.6ft to 5.9ft from the ESE with a very long 16-second period, and the combined energy is very strong (1447 to 1631). But the wind turns onshore again (E to ESE at 9-12 mph), so it’s choppy. That long period at a beach break might make it break too straight. It’s marginal.

Wednesday the 26th is similar – 6.2ft from the ESE, 15-16 second period, huge energy (1826), but still onshore. Not clean enough to be stoked on.

Now, Thursday the 27th of August afternoon is a proper “keep your eye on it” moment. We’ve got 6.9ft from the ESE, 16-second period, and the wind switches to a clean cross-offshore from the NNW at 12 mph. The energy is massive at 2107 (very strong). This is for experienced surfers only size-wise, but the conditions will be clean.

Friday the 28th of August stays big: 7.9ft to 8.2ft from the E, 15-second period, with a strong cross-offshore wind (NW to WNW at 19 mph). Energy is off the charts at 2685 to 3121 (very strong). It’s clean, but that’s a lot of power and size – expert territory only. The best session of the entire window might be Saturday the 29th of August in the morning. We get a true offshore wind from the W at 12 mph, 7.9ft swell from the E with a 14-second period, and excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Energy is still huge at 2397. This is lightweight wind, clean faces, and proper groundswell. This is your day.

Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st of August taper off. Swell drops to 3.9ft to 5.2ft with a shorter period (10-12 seconds), and wind goes light and a little cross. Still ridable, but nothing like the Saturday session.

To sum it up: the first standouts are Thursday the 20th of August morning at Yonabaru – that’s your clean, solid swell window. The absolute best on offer is Saturday the 29th of August morning, with offshore wind and excellent conditions for those who can handle the size. The second week is promising but less certain, so pencil it in and check back closer.

Stay safe, keep an eye on those storm clouds

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