Arawhata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, looking at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got Arawhata on the radar, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real bright spots to get excited about.

The water temperature at Arawhata is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no need to worry about any unusual chill.

The outlook kicks off on Tuesday, the 25th of August, but honestly, it’s a rough start. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is howling from the west at 19 mph, making it a lumpy, cross-onshore mess. The combined energy is massive at 3970, but it’s not doing us any favors. Wednesday and Thursday look a bit messy too, with cross and cross-off winds, though the swell drops a touch.

Now, the first real standout comes on Thursday morning, the 27th of August. The wind swings around to the east-northeast at a light 6 mph, going offshore, and that’s a game changer. The swell is a clean 6ft from the WSW, with a period of 13 seconds, bringing in some nice groundswell energy. The combined energy is a solid 1280, and with that offshore wind, it’s going to be glassy and clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers, and it’s the best on offer in the early part of the outlook.

We then hit a bit of a lull on Friday, the 28th of August, with a big jump in size to 12ft and 13ft, but the wind is screaming from the north at 28 mph. That’s a strong breeze, and while it’s cross-off, it’s still going to be tough to handle. That’s expert territory for sure, and the energy is pumping at 2111 and 3124, but the wind is the dominant factor.

The weekend of the 29th and 30th of August sees the swell drop back down, with 6ft to 3ft, but the wind is coming from the west and west-northwest, making it cross-on or onshore. The period on Sunday gets interesting with a very long 18 seconds, but the size is tiny and the wind is messy. Not ideal.

The 31st of August starts with a big 13ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is from the south-southeast at 25 mph, making it a strong cross-shore mess. The energy is through the roof at 7026, but it’s a write-off for paddling. The afternoon looks slightly better with a gentle breeze, but it’s still cross-onshore.

The first few days of September are a bit of a washout, with strong winds and choppy conditions. But then, we get a real gem on Thursday morning, the 3rd of September. The wind is from the east-southeast at a light 6 mph, going cross-off, and the swell is a solid 12ft from the WSW. The period is 11 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 4570. This is excellent surf, but it’s for experienced surfers only – that’s a big, powerful swell. The wind is light and clean, so the surface will be beautiful. This is the standout of the entire outlook.

After that, the 4th and 5th of September get windy again, with strong breezes from the north and south-east, making it messy. The 6th and 7th settle a bit, with moderate winds and some clean conditions, but the swell hangs around 7ft to 10ft. The 8th of September looks okay, with a clean 6ft from the WSW, but the wind picks up again.

Towards the end of the run, the swell drops off, and the wind is strong from the north, making it a tough call. The 9th of September has a small 4ft to 5ft swell, but the wind is blowing hard at 25 mph, so it’s not really worth it.

So, to sum it up: if you’re an experienced surfer, the mornings of Thursday, 27th August, and Thursday, 3rd September, are your best bets. The 3rd of September is the real standout, with that big, clean swell and light winds. Just be prepared for the size. For the rest, it’s a lot of wind and chop, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

Stay stoked, and I’ll catch you in the water.

Rusty

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