Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSW swell with 1,188 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 15s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Blacks Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Rusty here again. Let’s break down what’s happening at Blacks Reef in feet and miles, no sense in changing the story.
First week’s a bust. Tiny surf, nothing over 2-3 feet, coming out of the south with weak energy. Combined swell energy is low, mostly under 200. Winds are all over the place, and none of it’s setting up for a proper ride. You’re better off staying on the sand.
The 9th of September brings a pulse to about 4 feet from the south, but the wind is onshore. Combined energy hits 243, which is moderate, but the 8-second period means it’s lumpy and disorganized.
Then the 11th rolls in with a big, stormy 8-foot swell from the south-southwest, but it’s got heavy rain and strong onshore wind. Combined energy is 857 (moderate-strong), but it’s raw and ugly. Not for paddling.
Alright, the golden window: Saturday, September 12th. Morning brings a clean 7-foot south swell with light north wind and combined energy of 1685 (strong). That’s a proper groundswell for the experienced crowd. By the afternoon, it settles to about 6 feet from the south, but the wind goes dead calm – glassy. Combined energy is still 678 (moderate-strong). That afternoon is going to be a treat, no doubt.
Sunday the 13th sees the wind shift to the west-southwest, turning it to chop. The 14th and 15th are messy again with onshore winds and rain. Then Wednesday, September 16th, a massive 13-foot south swell rolls in with a very long 16-second period. Combined energy is a monster 7640 (very strong). That’s huge, but it’s too big for Blacks Reef – even with clean morning wind. Experts only, and even then, be smart. After that, it’s back to small and unremarkable through the 19th.
So, the one to circle is Saturday the 12th. The glassy afternoon is the real deal.
Water temp is running about 55°F, which is a bit colder than average for this time of year. Suit up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | WNW 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 144 | 71 | 29 | 62 | 63 | 84 | 104 | 103 | 149 | 46 | 44 | 38 | 46 | 59 | 259 | 239 | 191 | 100 | 39 | 27 | 23 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | on | on | on | on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 10:50AM1.74m | 11:22PM1.67m | 11:46AM1.74m | 00:17AM1.65m | 12:46PM1.73m | 1:15AM1.63m | 1:45PM1.73m | 2:15AM1.61m | 2:43PM1.74m | 3:14AM1.61m | 3:41PM1.74m | 4:12AM1.62m | 4:37PM1.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:13PM0.25m | 5:34AM0.23m | 6:09PM0.23m | 6:29AM0.21m | 7:08PM0.21m | 7:26AM0.19m | 8:07PM0.18m | 8:26AM0.16m | 9:05PM0.15m | 9:27AM0.13m | 10:02PM0.13m | 10:25AM0.11m | 10:59PM0.13m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 17 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 144 | 71 | 29 | 62 | 63 | 68 | 104 | 28 | 149 | 20 | 32 | 38 | 37 | 33 | 259 | 239 | 191 | 100 | 39 | 27 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | NNE 4 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | S 18 | SSW 18 | E 10 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 12 | S 11 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 4 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 84 | 56 | 103 | 2 | 46 | 44 | 17 | 46 | 59 | 12 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | S 17 | NE 5 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | — | E 10 | — | — | NE 5 | NE 7 | SE 6 | E 15 | E 15 | NE 8 | ENE 4 | ENE 9 | S 7 |
| kJ | 8 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | WNW 4 | SW 4 | NW 3 | — | W 2 | NW 3 | — | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | 5 | 11 | 24 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | 20 | 47 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 1 | 2 | 23 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 33 | 133 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 97 | 82 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Blacks Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Blacks Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Blacks Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Blacks Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Blacks Reef surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Blacks Reef) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Blacks Reef may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Blacks Reef is 50 km (31 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
Nearest