Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, S swell with 3,879 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Blacks Reef has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow start, so don’t be in a rush to grab your board just yet.
The first few days are a write-off. Tuesday the 8th is a mess with a strong onshore wind and a lumpy 10ft swell from the SSE – that’s a lot of energy (1352) but it’s just ugly. We’ve got a gap of no real surf until things start to look a little more promising. Wednesday the 9th is still marginal, with a 5ft SE swell and a light cross-shore wind, but it’s not worth getting excited about.
Thursday the 10th drops off even more, with tiny 3ft waves and very weak energy (117). The swell hangs around knee-high through the weekend, but the wind is either onshore or cross, so it’s not doing us any favours. The energy is weak (79 to 213 range), and the period is all over the place.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday the 13th is a proper standout. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell from the S, with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s a groundswell, and it’s packing a punch – the combined energy is a massive 3396! The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but the size and power are there. This is a reef break, so that long period will really focus the energy. For the experts, this is a big one. The water temp is about average for the time of year.
Monday the 14th is the real gem, though. The swell drops a touch to 5ft from the S, but the period is still a solid 13 seconds. The wind is glassy in the morning – dead calm – which at Blacks Reef is a dream. The energy is still strong (698). This is the best on offer: clean, glassy, and a solid long-period swell hitting an exposed reef. The afternoon stays clean with a light offshore breeze. Tuesday the 15th is also a good shout with 3ft waves and glassy conditions again in the afternoon, but the energy is lower (344).
The second week gets a bit messy again. Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th are blown out by strong cross-shore winds. Friday the 18th sees another bump of 8ft swell from the S, but the wind is a strong cross-shore, making it lumpy. The weekend of the 19th and 20th is a no-go with onshore winds. The very end of the window, Wednesday the 23rd, shows a tiny 3ft SE swell with glassy conditions – a nice little clean-up, but don’t expect much size.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a dud, but Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th are the clear standouts. Monday is the winner for clean, quality surf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, light winds from the SSE by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 15 | S 19 | SSW 6 | S 18 | S 17 | S 6 | S 13 | S 16 | S 17 | S 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1584 | 1326 | 965 | 527 | 284 | 266 | 157 | 96 | 67 | 79 | 186 | 352 | 156 | 147 | 232 | 2355 | 3396 | 2637 | 1549 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 2:15AM1.61m | 2:43PM1.74m | 3:14AM1.61m | 3:41PM1.74m | 4:12AM1.62m | 4:37PM1.75m | 5:08AM1.63m | 5:33PM1.75m | 6:03AM1.67m | 6:25PM1.75m | 6:56AM1.71m | 7:15PM1.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:26AM0.16m | 9:05PM0.15m | 9:27AM0.13m | 10:02PM0.13m | 10:25AM0.11m | 10:59PM0.13m | 11:19AM0.11m | 11:53PM0.14m | 12:11PM0.13m | 00:45AM0.17m | 1:02PM0.18m | 1:33AM0.22m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | 26 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 19 | SE 7 | S 7 | S 17 | S 16 | S 13 | S 16 | S 17 | S 15 |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | 8 | 527 | 284 | 266 | 157 | 96 | 67 | 42 | 186 | 17 | 86 | 147 | 134 | 2355 | 3396 | 2637 | 1549 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | SSW 15 | NE 16 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 15 | SE 7 | ENE 13 | S 18 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 21 | 10 | 31 | 80 | 36 | 23 | 21 | 12 | 79 | 25 | 35 | 156 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 29 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 16 | NE 16 | S 13 | E 15 | E 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 13 | NE 9 | SE 7 | SE 6 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | E 12 | E 12 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | N 3 | NW 3 | — | NNW 2 | SW 3 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | S 6 | — | NNE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 1584 | 1326 | 965 | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 2 | 352 | — | 55 | 232 | — | 23 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 127 | 79 | 88 | 9 | 3 | 46 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 73 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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