Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. I've got to be straight with you – the next 16 days are a real struggle for surf around here. We're looking at a long, dry spell with barely a wave worth paddling for. The water's sitting at 81° and that's a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don't expect that tropical bath you might be used to.

Let's start with the here and now. Wednesday the 15th through to Tuesday the 22nd is just flat. We're talking waist-high dribble at best – 1ft to 1ft from the east-southeast with a period around 9 to 11 seconds. The combined energy is weak, sitting between 14 and 57, which is basically nothing. Winds are mostly cross-off or light offshore, which would make for clean conditions, but there's just no power behind it. You'd be better off with a bodyboard or just enjoying the beach.

Then we hit Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th, and it's still frustrating. Swell ticks up a tiny bit to 2ft from the east, still with weak energy in the 50s. The 24th has some glassy moments in the morning with a light southerly wind, but it's still 1ft. You're looking at a knee-high bump with no push.

Friday the 25th through Sunday the 27th is a write-off. The swell is tiny, and the wind swings onshore from the east and east-northeast, blowing 15 to 25 km/h, making it bumpy and messy. The energy stays low, in the teens and thirties.

Now, here's the kicker. Starting Monday the 28th, the swell finally shows up, but it's a mess. Monday the 28th has a risk of thunderstorms with 2ft to 3ft from the east-southeast, but the wind is howling onshore at 25 km/h. The energy jumps to 168, which is moderate, but the conditions are choppy and crossed-up. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.

Tuesday the 29th is the one that gets your attention. We've got 5ft swell from the east-southeast, but the period is short at 8 seconds, and the wind is onshore at 30 km/h. The energy is strong at 368, but it's ugly. That size is getting too big for beginners, and with the wind and short period, it'll be a messy, drifty wave. Only for experts who don't mind a beating.

The 30th and 31st have some leftover swell, 4ft to 5ft from the southeast, with periods dropping to 7 seconds. The wind is cross-off from the south-southwest, which is cleaner, but the energy is down to 149 to 191. It's rideable, but not a standout. The last few days into early August drop off into nothing again.

The only break we've got to talk about is Yonabaru. It's a beginner-friendly spot, fairly consistent, with a northeast optimum swell direction. But the swell we're getting is from the east and southeast, which is off its game. It's often crowded, but that won't be an issue with no waves.

Honestly, there's no standout session here. The best of a bad bunch is probably Tuesday the 29th if you're an expert and don't mind the wind, but it's not worth getting excited about. The forecast can change, but right now, this is a tough run.

Rusty.

Read more