Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 19s period, S swell with 3,858 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period with ESE 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 (Jul 15) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s. 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 2.3m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk about what’s happening in feet and degrees Fahrenheit.
First thing, the water is running at 55°F, which is a couple degrees colder than the usual for this time of year, so you’ll feel that chill.
Right now, it’s a flat spell. We’ve got waves only 1ft with weak, short-period energy (62 combined). The wind is light and cross-off, so it looks clean, but there’s nothing to ride.
Wednesday afternoon we get a bit of a saving grace with glassy conditions, but still only 1ft. For a beginner, that’s a fun splash, but anyone else is going to be frustrated.
Thursday the swell picks up to 2-3ft from the ESE with a period around 15 seconds, but the cross-shore wind is up at 20 km/h. The combined energy climbs to moderate (224-534), but the surface is going to be choppy and bumpy.
Friday the size jumps. 5ft from the SE on Friday morning (1412 combined energy), but it’s cross-on. The period is a very long 16 seconds – groundswell. That long period will make the reef jack up, but the wind is blowing across the face, so it’s a mixed bag. Friday afternoon pushes to 6ft onshore and messy.
Saturday morning is still 5ft cross-shore. But Saturday afternoon is the one. 5ft from the SE (1163 combined energy) with glassy, no-wind conditions. That’s excellent for experienced surfers. The long period (14 seconds) and the reef will produce clean, steep shapes. This is your best session in the first week.
Sunday is a mess. 8ft from the south on Sunday morning (4874 combined energy – very strong) howling onshore at 25 km/h. Unsurfable for paddle surfing. Monday stays onshore with 3-7ft.
Tuesday the swell backs down and stays onshore.
Then the forecast cleans up. Wednesday morning the 22nd has 4ft from the S with glassy wind (612 combined energy). The outlook calls it “expect very good surf conditions.” Clean and user-friendly. Thursday the 23rd is smaller but glassy at around 2ft.
The next big highlight is Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th. These are the long-range gems. Tuesday morning and afternoon have 5ft and 5ft from the E with glassy conditions (939 and 839 combined energy). Clean, consistent, and lined up. Wednesday morning holds at 5ft from the ESE with glassy winds (928 combined energy). These are days where you can expect really clean, well-shaped waves.
Crowds are often a factor here, and on those glassy days with decent height, it will be busy. The reef is consistent and handles swell well.
So, bottom line: Saturday the 18th afternoon is your near-term winner, and keep an eye on the 28th and 29th for a real treat. Skip the windy, onshore days. It’s all about waiting for that glassy window.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tue 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 17 | SE 16 | SE 16 | SE 16 | S 13 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 23 | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | S 10 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 45 | 20 | 48 | 47 | 96 | 196 | 510 | 964 | 1317 | 1321 | 1278 | 1020 | 874 | 1733 | 3858 | 1375 | 858 | 468 | 1865 | 1555 | 915 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | off | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:14PM1.94m | 5:45AM1.79m | 6:14PM1.96m | 6:44AM1.79m | 7:11PM1.96m | 7:42AM1.78m | 8:06PM1.93m | 8:36AM1.77m | 8:58PM1.88m | 9:27AM1.75m | 9:50PM1.81m | 10:17AM1.72m | 10:42PM1.74m | 11:07AM1.68m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:37PM0.13m | 11:59AM0.08m | 00:36AM0.09m | 12:53PM0.04m | 1:34AM0.06m | 1:47PM0.03m | 2:28AM0.06m | 2:42PM0.06m | 3:21AM0.09m | 3:36PM0.13m | 4:12AM0.14m | 4:30PM0.21m | 5:02AM0.20m | ||||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 |
 | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | 5:08 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 15 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 17 | SE 16 | SE 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 18 | S 16 | S 10 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 |
| kJ | 21 | 20 | 48 | 47 | 96 | 196 | 510 | 964 | 1317 | 1321 | 1278 | 1020 | 874 | 637 | 488 | 1375 | 858 | 468 | 1865 | 1555 | 915 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | S 16 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | SSW 5 | SE 16 | SE 15 | S 10 | S 9 | S 23 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | S 15 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 17 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 1284 | 1203 | 386 | 244 | 1733 | 528 | 363 | 244 | 343 | 199 | 150 | 126 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | S 9 | S 16 | S 19 | S 14 | NE 10 | SW 10 | SSW 16 | — | — | S 20 | S 24 | S 9 | — | — | — | SE 12 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 45 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 47 | — | — | 30 | 45 | 132 | — | — | — | 205 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 3 | WNW 3 | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | S 19 | S 6 | S 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 9 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | 3858 | 212 | 226 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 79 | 162 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 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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