Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m Rusty, and here’s the long-range look at your local stretch.

Honestly, this is a tough forecast to call. The first 16 days have a real mixed bag, with only a few serious windows of opportunity. We’ve got a big gap of poor surf for days on end, then a couple of heavy – and I mean *heavy* – pulses that are only for the brave. Let’s get into it.

The only break on the radar is Yonabaru (Okinawa, Japan). For beginners, it’s a fairly consistent spot, but it doesn’t always fire. The water’s sitting at a warm 84°F, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off the outlook on Monday, the 24th of August. Not much to get excited about. A weak 2 ft SE swell with a screaming long period of 16 seconds, but it’s just not packing enough punch (270 combined energy). The wind is onshore, so it’s messy. Afternoon looks a bit bigger at 5 ft from the ESE, but with thunderstorm risk and onshore breeze, it’s a washout. Tuesday morning, the 25th, is where things get interesting. A solid 13 ft ESE swell rolls in, but there’s a catch. The period is a long 16 seconds, and the energy is massive (7473). The wind is cross-shore, but the swell is simply too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s a beast. The afternoon holds the same size and direction, with a slightly better cross-offshore wind, but it’s still 13 ft – that’s a heavy paddle out.

Wednesday the 26th turns ugly. Strong winds from the west (34 mph) and a big 8 ft NW swell, but the wind is a near gale. It’s offshore, which keeps it clean, but you’ll be fighting for your life just to get out. The energy is still high (2085). This is more of a kite session than a paddle session. Thursday and Friday through the weekend are all poor – small, choppy, and onshore. The swell drops to 1 ft on Thursday, with strong cross-offshore winds. It’s a dead zone.

We get a bit of a reprieve on Monday, the 31st of August, but it’s still not great. A 6 ft ESE swell with onshore winds. The energy is moderate (470), but the quality is poor. This continues through Tuesday, the 1st of September, with a 8 ft ESE swell and cross-onshore wind. The period is a decent 10 seconds, but it’s lumpy.

Then, on Wednesday the 2nd, we get another big one. A 12 ft ESE swell with a period of 11 seconds. The energy is massive (4645), but the wind is a strong cross-shore making a mess. It’s a washing machine. Thursday the 3rd is the real standout. A monster 25 ft SE swell, with a very long period of 14 seconds, and a cross-offshore wind. The energy is off the charts (21919). The wind is a severe gale, but it’s offshore, so the face will be clean. This is for absolute experts only – it’s going to be a full-on, dangerous, heavy-water session. After that, Friday the 4th sees a sharp drop, with a 8 ft SE swell and strong offshore wind, but it’s hard to paddle into. The energy is moderate (771).

The final days of the outlook, from Saturday the 5th to Tuesday the 8th of September, are a quiet fade-out. Small swells (2 ft to 6 ft), mostly from the ESE or NW, with light to moderate winds. The conditions are "surfable but very ordinary" or marginal. The best of this last week is Sunday the 6th, with a 3 ft NW swell, light winds, and clean conditions. It’s tiny, but it’s the closest to a relaxed paddle you’ll get.

So, to sum it up: the best two windows are Tuesday the 25th of August for the brave, and Thursday the 3rd of September for the suicidal. The rest is a long, flat, or messy slog. If you’re a beginner, stay away from the big swells. If you’re an expert, mark that Thursday the 3rd on your calendar, but keep an eye on the wind.

Rusty.

Read more