Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on offer at Yonabaru.

Honestly, it's a tough stretch of days ahead. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a write-off for decent paddle surfing. There's a lot of wind and not much quality on the table. The water is a warm 85°, which is about average for the time of year, so at least you won't be cold while you're getting blown off your board.

The first week is a complete mess. Starting Thursday the 9th, we've got a massive 15ft SE swell, but it's accompanied by a fresh onshore breeze and the risk of thunderstorms. The wave energy is severe (12477), but it's just too big and messy to be any fun. The next day, Friday the 10th, is even worse. We're looking at a huge 30ft SE swell with near gale-force onshore winds at 31 mph. That's a hard pass for anyone – it's a recipe for a beating. The wind just gets stronger into Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th, with gale and near gale-force cross-onshore winds keeping the ocean completely blown out. There's nothing to paddle into here.

We get a bit of a lull from Monday the 13th through to the middle of the week, but it's tiny, with weak, short-period swell barely reaching 1.0ft. The winds are mostly cross-shore or cross-onshore, creating a lumpy, choppy mess. The energy is in the single digits (14 to 21), so there's just no power in the water. It's not worth the effort.

The second week offers a slight glimmer, but it's still not great. On Saturday the 18th, the swell picks up to 5ft from the ESE, with moderate onshore wind. The energy is moderate (481), but the conditions are still poor. By Monday the 20th, we see a 7ft SE swell with a gentle cross-shore breeze, which is the best wind we've seen in a while. The energy is strong (769), but the forecast says it's marginal. The period is a short 9 seconds, so it'll be a bit weak and close-outy. The last day with any real hope is Thursday the 23rd. We have a 3ft E swell with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, giving us clean conditions for the first time. The energy is a low 122, but it's the cleanest surf of the entire run.

The standout, if you can call it that, is Thursday the 23rd at Yonabaru. With a 3ft swell from the east and a light cross-offshore wind, it’ll be the cleanest you'll see. It's not big, but it's the only time the stars align for a bit of a smooth surface. Don't expect much power, but it’s your best bet for a few grovelly ones.

Honestly, for a spot that's fairly consistent, this is a long stretch of poor conditions. For the most part, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, given the strong onshore wind and sizeable swell in the first week. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because it tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

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