Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about what’s happening in the water around Yonabaru. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at this forecast for a while. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a rough run.

We’re coming out of the gate on Thursday, July 9th, with a big, messy SE swell pushing 13ft to 15ft. That’s a lot of water, but it’s got an onshore wind howling at 19 to 22 mph, so the surface is going to be a total mess. The water temp is sitting right on 84°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a steamer. Still, the combined energy is massive – 7903 on Thursday morning, jumping to 12477 in the afternoon – but it’s all for nothing with that wind. This is for experts only, and even then, it’s a battle.

Then we hit a real dry spell. From Friday, July 10th, right through until the morning of Friday, July 17th, there’s pretty much nothing worth paddling out for. You’ve got storm risks, near gale-force winds, and the swell is either non-existent or tiny – like 0.7ft to 2ft with short period. The energy values are well under 100 for most of that stretch, which is weak. Honestly, it’s a blank week. The only glimmer is a slight improvement in wind on the 14th, 15th, and 16th, with a light cross-shore breeze, but the waves are just too small to get excited about. It’s the kind of run that’s more normal for this area when the tropics get messy.

Finally, on the morning of Saturday, July 18th, we see a pulse. Swell jumps to 6ft from the ESE, with a short period of 7 seconds. The wind is light and cross-shore, which is a plus, but the energy is only moderate (270). The forecast calls it “marginal” – it’s a bit lumpy and the tide could be a factor. This is beginner territory, but that short period means the waves will be a bit fat and crumbly, not offering much push. Still, it’s the best we’ve seen.

The following few days, from the 19th to the 23rd, are a similar story. Swell sizes hover around 4ft to 7ft, mostly from the ESE or E, but the wind keeps swinging onshore or cross-onshore, keeping things choppy. The energy climbs into the mid hundreds, and on the 20th and 21st we hit 677 and 814, which is moderate to strong. But the conditions never quite clean up. The surf is there, but it’s a chore.

The real standout, if you can call it that, comes on Friday, July 24th. The morning shows a tiny 3ft swell from the north, with a period of 8 seconds, but the wind is a light cross-offshore from the SW. That’s clean. The energy is low (89), but the forecast actually says “clean” conditions – the first time that’s happened. Then in the afternoon, it goes glassy. A 2ft north swell, no wind, glassy surface. That’s the window. It’s small, sure, but it will be the most fun you’ll have all forecast. The crowd factor at Yonabaru is only “sometimes,” so you might even have it to yourself.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The middle of the run is marginal but surfable for the keen. The one true standout is the afternoon of Friday, July 24th – glassy, clean, tiny little waves. It’s a long way out, so don’t bank on it, but it’s the best hope we’ve got.

Rusty.

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