Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, S swell with 7,445 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board, let’s see what we’ve got here. We’re looking at Blacks Reef for the next couple of weeks, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The water’s running a bit colder than usual for this time of year at 54°, about 3° cooler, so you might want an extra mm of rubber.
We kick things off on Thursday morning, August 13th. It’s not the biggest swell, but the conditions are surprisingly tidy with a light offshore wind from the NE. You’re looking at a clean 3ft SE swell, 9-second period, with moderate wave energy (200). It’s easy, fun, and beginner-friendly, but don't expect any power.
The rest of Thursday and all of Friday, August 14th, drops off into nothing. Tiny, weak, and crossed up. A dead zone for surfing. Saturday, August 15th, the swell starts to bump up to 7ft from the east, but the wind is all wrong – cross-shore – and the energy is strong (702), but the quality is messy, especially in the afternoon. Not a standout.
Then we hit a real ugly stretch. From Sunday, August 16th, through to Wednesday, August 19th, the wind goes howling onshore from the south and southwest, blasting the place. Swell sizes jump from 8ft all the way up to 15ft, with very strong energy (over 5000). This is not for paddling. This is for experts only, if you can even handle the closeouts and the wind. The break is exposed, and the southerly wind is straight on it. Honestly, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing those few days.
Conditions start to clean up from the 20th, but it’s still onshore or crossed-up until we get to the true standout window.
Friday, August 21st, is the pick of the entire outlook. The morning is glassy, with a clean 5ft S swell and a nice long 11-second period. Moderate energy (689) and light offshore wind from the NW. This is groundswell quality. It will be lined up and clean. The afternoon holds clean too, with a cross-offshore breeze.
Saturday, August 22nd, is still decent, with a glassy afternoon and a 4ft S swell. Good, but not as good as Friday.
Then there’s a lull till the next real highlight right at the tail end of the period.
Tuesday, August 25th rolls around, and this is the other standout. The morning is glassy again, with a 6ft S swell packing a very long 14-second period. That’s real groundswell energy (1092). This will have plenty of power and shape, but keep in mind, at a reef setup like this, that long period will wrap in nicely. It’s clean, powerful, and excellent for experienced surfers.
After that, the winds stay favorable through the 26th, with offshore breezes and clean 4ft S swell, before it all fades to flat and choppy again at the end of the month. So, if you want the best, aim for the morning of Friday the 21st, or the morning of Tuesday the 25th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 62mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sat morning, strong winds from the SSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Sun afternoon). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 16 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 12 | S 12 | S 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
155 | 82 | 69 | 20 | 20 | 977 | 654 | 612 | 524 | 601 | 3251 | 2393 | 1628 | 1952 | 1813 | 2323 | 1219 | 1752 | 5816 | 4836 | 5726 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:54PM1.87m | 6:24AM1.72m | 6:49PM1.87m | 7:19AM1.73m | 7:41PM1.84m | 8:11AM1.75m | 8:31PM1.81m | 9:00AM1.76m | 9:21PM1.76m | 9:46AM1.75m | 10:10PM1.71m | 10:33AM1.72m | 10:59PM1.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:39AM0.06m | 00:16AM0.09m | 12:32PM0.05m | 1:11AM0.09m | 1:24PM0.08m | 2:02AM0.11m | 2:17PM0.13m | 2:51AM0.16m | 3:09PM0.20m | 3:39AM0.22m | 4:01PM0.28m | 4:27AM0.30m | 4:51PM0.34m | ||||||||
6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | |
mm | 8 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | S 15 | S 16 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 10 | SSE 11 | SE 9 | — | ESE 14 | S 15 |
155 | 82 | 69 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 612 | 524 | 412 | 248 | 154 | 110 | 98 | 28 | 19 | 955 | 196 | — | 18 | 5726 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | ESE 14 | SSE 9 | ESE 14 | E 11 | SE 13 | S 18 | SSW 17 | — | — | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | ESE 14 | — |
28 | 42 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 25 | 100 | — | — | 286 | 333 | — | 43 | 19 | 7 | — | — | 18 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 11 | ESE 14 | S 16 | — | SSW 14 | ESE 13 | SSW 17 | — | — | SE 15 | ESE 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
17 | 17 | 12 | 19 | 20 | — | 20 | 17 | 164 | — | — | 9 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | SSW 6 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 12 | S 12 | S 15 |
27 | 44 | 182 | 186 | 240 | 977 | 654 | — | — | 601 | 3251 | 2393 | 1628 | 1952 | 1813 | 2323 | 1219 | 1752 | 5816 | 4836 | 4915 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 127 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 139 | 143 | 162 | 91 | 91 | 89 | 169 | 91 | 91 | 89 | 170 | 75 |
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.











