Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SE swell with 1,572 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 2.1m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk Blacks Reef (South Africa) in feet and miles per hour, the way the old-timers like it. Water temp’s sittin’ about 55°F, which is a good three degrees cooler than average – you’ll be needing a thick suit.
Kicking off on Wednesday, July 22nd, we’ve got a clean 4ft south swell with a nice 12-second period and glassy wind from the ESE at just 3 mph. The energy’s moderate at 371. This is the sleeper hit of the whole forecast – small but perfect. Thursday the 23rd brings a morning offshore N wind at 6 mph and a 3ft south swell, still clean and fun. Thursday afternoon, the swell drops to 2ft, but it stays clean with a NE offshore breeze.
Friday the 24th, the swell fades to a tiny 1ft with a cross-offshore NNW wind at 9 mph. Energy’s a weak 40 – it’s barely breaking. From Saturday the 25th through Tuesday the 28th, the wind turns onshore and the sea gets messy. Saturday brings a shift to SW at 19 mph with rain, and Sunday sees a jump in swell to 6ft but with a short, choppy 8-second period and onshore SW winds at 12 mph. Energy hits 851, but it’s blown-out and ugly – more of a kite day. Monday and Tuesday hold swell over 5ft with energy over 1000, but it’s all onshore and lumpy.
Then Wednesday, July 29th – that’s a big one. Morning offshore N wind at 6 mph and a 6ft south groundswell with a 13-second period. Energy is a strong 1147. This is for experts only – over 5ft on a reef with that long period will be a wild ride. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-offshore breeze. Thursday the 30th offers a glimmer with a cross-offshore NW wind at 12 mph and a 5ft swell, but the energy drops to 591 and it’s only marginal.
From Friday, July 31st, we get hammered. Swell rockets to 12ft to 13ft with onshore SW winds screaming at 22-28 mph. Energy goes extreme – over 6000. It’s a full-on gale. This carries into early August with swell up to 16ft and strong onshore winds – way too big for this break. The forecast says it’s too big, and I can’t argue. By Tuesday, August 4th, we’ve still got 8ft to 16ft swell and onshore winds.
Finally, Thursday, August 6th, the weather backs off: glassy WNW wind at 3 mph and a clean 6ft swell from the SSE with a 10-second period. Energy’s moderate at 858, and conditions look very good. It’s a long shot at that range, but it’s worth a thought.
Best bets: Wednesday, July 22nd for the small, glassy perfection, and Wednesday, July 29th for the bigger, expert-level reef grinding. There’s a big dead spell from the 25th to the 28th, and another messy run from the 31st through the 5th. Pick your windows wisely.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Sat afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | ESE 13 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | ESE 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 342 | 326 | 180 | 75 | 34 | 30 | 26 | 58 | 166 | 164 | 565 | 476 | 612 | 525 | 649 | 907 | 1349 | 1170 | 1027 | 932 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:24AM1.62m | 12:54PM1.62m | 1:14AM1.58m | 1:46PM1.61m | 2:03AM1.55m | 2:36PM1.59m | 2:51AM1.51m | 3:22PM1.58m | 3:37AM1.48m | 4:08PM1.56m | 4:23AM1.45m | 4:53PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:15PM0.36m | 6:39AM0.36m | 7:08PM0.42m | 7:27AM0.42m | 8:00PM0.47m | 8:15AM0.47m | 8:50PM0.50m | 9:04AM0.48m | 9:37PM0.50m | 9:53AM0.48m | 10:23PM0.49m | 10:40AM0.45m | 11:08PM0.46m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — |
 | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
Feels °C | 9 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 14 | SE 14 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | 342 | 326 | 180 | 75 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 58 | 166 | 164 | 121 | 301 | 424 | 525 | 533 | 907 | 1349 | 1170 | 1027 | 932 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 7 | SE 17 | SE 16 | E 10 | SSW 15 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 29 | 34 | 30 | 37 | 34 | 30 | 26 | 14 | 25 | 107 | 201 | 54 | 43 | 472 | 649 | 340 | 246 | 514 | 296 | 175 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 12 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 12 | ENE 7 | ESE 18 | S 18 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 18 | 22 | 10 | 21 | 5 | 32 | 24 | 52 | 20 | 85 | 37 | 52 | 18 | 65 | 73 | 64 | 39 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 3 | NNW 2 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | WNW 3 | WSW 4 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 35 | 7 | 34 | 565 | 476 | 612 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 10 | 82 | 41 | 41 | 99 | 41 | 41 | 89 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
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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