Surf Forecasts:
Yonabaru surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, ESE swell with 1,474 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Yonabaru this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Yonabaru in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 10s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Yonabaru over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s shaping up for the Yonabaru region over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you—this is a strange one. The first week is a total write-off, a real bust. From Sunday, August 16th, all the way through to Sunday, August 23rd, the conditions are just plain ugly. We’re talking persistent onshore and cross-shore winds, lumpy, choppy water, and a few thunderstorms and rain showers kicking about. The energy is weak, barely registering most days, and the wave comment is "poor surf conditions" across the board. There’s honestly nothing worth paddling out for in that first stretch.
But then, things take a turn. The forecast shows a pulse of solid, long-period groundswell arriving around Monday, August 24th. That’s when it gets interesting. The early part of that week doesn’t look perfect—the morning of the 24th is glassy with a small but promising 3ft swell from the ESE, period a juicy 15 seconds. The energy jumps to a moderate 621. This is the kind of clean start that gets a guy excited.
The real standout, though, happens later in that same week. The morning of Wednesday, August 26th, through to the afternoon of Friday, August 28th, is where the magic is. Get this: a solid 10ft swell from the ESE, with a period of 15 to 17 seconds, pairing up with a light to moderate cross-offshore wind from the NW. That’s a recipe for clean, powerful waves at Yonabaru. The combined swell energy is massive—in the 4500 to 5200 range—so this is serious, very strong energy. The surf will be heavy and well-defined, a proper groundswell.
Now, a word of caution: with a swell that big (over 8ft) and a long period like 17 seconds, this is strictly for experienced surfers. The waves are going to be powerful and relentless, and the long period means sets will be widely spaced but heavy. For the advanced crew, the morning of Wednesday, August 26th, with light offshore winds and clean conditions, is the absolute best bet of the whole outlook. The wave comment even calls it "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers" from the 28th onward. The water temp is sitting around 84°F, which is about normal for this time of year.
The crowds at Yonabaru can be a factor, so expect some company if you’re heading out for those peak days. By the time we hit the 29th and 30th, the swell starts to back off and the wind turns a bit more onshore, so the quality fades.
Bottom line: suffer through a week of flat and messy conditions, then get ready for a serious, expert-only window of groundswell starting around the 26th of August. That’s the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 27°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun morning, fresh winds from the E by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 64mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the S by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
51 | 51 | 50 | 73 | 71 | 50 | 57 | 130 | 152 | 509 | 422 | 1474 | 999 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 26 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 15 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 8:59PM2.11m | 9:07AM2.08m | 9:27PM2.09m | 9:50AM1.95m | 9:57PM2.05m | 10:40AM1.79m | 10:31PM1.99m | 11:45AM1.63m | 11:12PM1.91m | 1:25PM1.53m | 00:10AM1.84m | 3:38PM1.57m | 1:38AM1.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:45PM0.47m | 3:02AM0.64m | 3:16PM0.62m | 3:42AM0.63m | 3:47PM0.79m | 4:26AM0.65m | 4:20PM0.97m | 5:20AM0.70m | 4:58PM1.15m | 6:30AM0.74m | 5:55PM1.32m | 8:02AM0.73m | 7:49PM1.42m | ||||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 35 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 9 | SW 8 | ESE 8 | SW 8 | S 8 | ESE 9 | SE 10 | SW 8 | SSE 10 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 |
86 | 65 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 74 | 49 | 34 | 98 | 11 | 11 | 749 | 999 | 11 | 917 | 739 | 26 | 6 | 399 | 290 | 200 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 5 | S 7 | SSW 8 | S 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 9 | ENE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 10 |
51 | 51 | 50 | 73 | 71 | 50 | 15 | 8 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 24 | 22 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | E 10 | SSE 10 | — | SSW 8 | — | S 8 | SW 8 | — | — | SW 9 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
27 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 30 | 10 | — | 22 | — | 13 | 25 | — | — | 14 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | — | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | — | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | — |
12 | 13 | 21 | 25 | 20 | 19 | 57 | 130 | 152 | 509 | 422 | 1474 | — | 889 | 1422 | — | 606 | 516 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 1033 | 607 | 820 | 607 | 607 | 599 | 599 | 616 | 622 | 599 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Okinawa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Yonabaru Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Yonabaru provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Yonabaru can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Yonabaru surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Yonabaru) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Yonabaru may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Yonabaru is 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Ginowan. If you plan a holiday in Okinawa, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ginowan. Ginowan has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











