Arawhata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for Arawhata.

The week starts off with a bit of promise. Tuesday the 28th has a clean 5-foot swell from the west-southwest, with an 11-second period. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the ESE, and the combined energy is moderate at 555. That morning session is the one to beat for the early week. The afternoon goes cross-shore and messy, so don’t bother.

Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th see the swell drop a little, to around 4 feet, but the wind stays cross-offshore. The forecast flags marginal conditions, and a moderate breeze keeps the surface a bit lumpy. Thursday morning has a longer period of 14 seconds, giving the waves more shape, but the rain showers and moderate breeze take the edge off.

Then we hit a rough patch. Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August are a washout. The swell jumps to 13 feet to 16 feet, with strong onshore winds. The combined energy is massive – over 9000 on Saturday morning – but the wind is howling, and the surf is messy and dangerous. This is for experts only, and honestly, even then it’s not looking fun. For paddle surfing, it’s a no-go. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Sunday the 2nd settles down. The swell drops to 6 feet, but the wind is still fresh and cross-off, keeping it clean enough for a look. The combined energy is 970 (moderate), but the periods are dropping back to 10-11 seconds. It’s a recovery day.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Monday the 3rd of August brings a long-period groundswell from the WSW, with a period of 19 seconds in the morning. The swell is only 4 feet, but the combined energy is 1384 (moderate-strong). The wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the ESE. The water temp is about average for this time of year. This is a standout for experienced surfers, especially at a reef break like Arawhata. The long period means the waves will have real shape and power, with longer waits between sets, making paddling out easier. The morning is the call.

The rest of the first week into the second week is a slow fade. Tuesday the 4th is blown out. Wednesday the 5th has a bump in swell to 7 feet, but the wind is cross-off and the period is a solid 13 seconds. It’s clean, but the combined energy is high (1654 – moderate-strong), and the size is pushing into expert territory. Thursday the 6th is a nice little clean morning with 5 feet and a 12-second period, and the combined energy is 937 (moderate). It’s a good session.

The real gem comes on Friday the 7th of August. The morning is glassy, with the wind dropping to zero, a 3-foot swell from the WSW, and a 13-second period. The combined energy is 502 (weak-moderate). It’s clean, it’s calm, and the waves will be peeling nicely. This is a perfect day for a longboard or a funboard. The crowds are sometimes a factor at Arawhata, but with conditions this good, expect a few locals out.

The following weekend is subdued. Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th have small, clean conditions, but the swell is only 3 feet to 4 feet. Sunday morning has a glassy start and a 15-second period, which is worth a look. The combined energy is 869 (moderate) on Sunday.

The final week, from Monday the 10th to Wednesday the 12th, is small and marginal. The swell hovers around 3 feet to 5 feet. The big highlight is Wednesday the 12th: a clean morning with 5-foot swell and a 16-second period. The combined energy is 1137 (moderate-strong), and the wind is a light cross-offshore. That’s a promising session for the second week, but it’s far out, so keep your eyes on the forecast.

Best on offer: Tuesday morning the 28th for the clean, solid 5-foot swell, and Friday morning the 7th of August for the glassy conditions and long-period groundswell. The 3rd of August is also a standout for experienced surfers on the long-period groundswell.

Rusty.

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