Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window for Yonabaru is a tough one. We’ve got a solid run of onshore and cross-off winds that are going to keep things messy for a good stretch. The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Friday the 18th, and even then it’s just small, ordinary waves. There’s a big gap of poor conditions from now until then.

Let’s start with the early part. Tuesday the 8th, we’ve got a bit of a cross-off breeze, but the swell is a short-period 5ft from the NNW with a period of only 8 seconds. The energy is moderate (344), but the wind is howling at 15-18 mph, so it’s going to be choppy and ugly. The rest of the week through to the 17th is a write-off – mostly onshore winds, short-period chop, and very low energy. The swell drops into the 2ft-4ft range, but the wind state is just not cooperating. It’s a real bummer for a stretch that’s supposed to be fairly consistent.

The first glimmer of hope, and it’s a small one, comes on Friday the 18th. The morning looks glassy with no wind, and we’ve got a tiny 2ft groundswell from the east with a long 12-second period. The energy is weak (141), but it’s the cleanest conditions we’ve seen. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze, but the swell drops to 2ft. It’s not for charging, but if you’re desperate, it’s something to look at.

Now, the real standout – and I mean the *only* standout – is on Monday the 21st. We get a massive shot of long-period groundswell from the ESE. The morning kicks off with a 3ft swell at a very long 17 seconds, and the energy jumps to 778 – that’s solid. The wind is a clean cross-off from the NNW. But it’s the afternoon that’s the real eye-opener: the swell jumps to 5ft, still from the ESE, with a 16-second period, and the energy rockets to a massive 2802. That’s strong energy. The winds stay clean and cross-off. This is a proper groundswell – long lines, power, and clean conditions. For a beginner break like Yonabaru, a 5ft swell is manageable, but these long-period swells can make the surf a bit more walled up and tricky, especially for a beach setup. The rip might be a bit of a pull. The crowds here are listed as "sometimes," so you might see a few others out, but it’s not a zoo.

Tuesday the 22nd still has some decent leftovers – 5ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon, both from the ESE with a 14-15 second period. The energy is still strong (1233 and 1056), but the wind turns cross-shore, which will put a little chop on the face. It’s still a good session, but not as clean as Monday.

The outlook after that fades again. The swell drops, the wind turns onshore, and we’re back to poor conditions. Wednesday the 23rd has some chest-high leftovers from the east, but it’s onshore, so it’s a no-go.

So, the one to circle on your calendar is Monday the 21st. That afternoon looks like the best of the lot by a long shot. If you’re an intermediate, you’ll be fine. Beginners might find it a bit punchy for the first time out. The water temperature is 84°, which is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit.

Keep your eyes on the forecasts – it’s been a rough run, but it’s not going to stay poor forever.

Rusty

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