Surf Forecasts:
Cray Bay surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, S swell with 5,839 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cray Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Cray Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cray Bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cray Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the WSW by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 9 | S 8 | S 12 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 942 | 1119 | 428 | 2110 | 5160 | 5839 | 5834 | 2866 | 2022 | 525 | 266 | 413 | 538 | 287 | 160 | 154 | 110 | 33 | 32 | 30 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 9:15PM1.53m | 9:43AM1.47m | 10:05PM1.47m | 10:32AM1.44m | 10:54PM1.41m | 11:21AM1.41m | 11:42PM1.35m | 12:09PM1.38m | 00:30AM1.31m | 12:56PM1.36m | 1:18AM1.28m | 1:44PM1.34m | 2:05AM1.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:36AM0.10m | 3:58PM0.15m | 4:23AM0.15m | 4:48PM0.20m | 5:10AM0.21m | 5:37PM0.25m | 5:56AM0.26m | 6:25PM0.30m | 6:42AM0.30m | 7:12PM0.33m | 7:28AM0.32m | 8:00PM0.35m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | S 11 | S 11 | S 14 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 12 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 284 | 821 | 297 | 196 | 9 | 3575 | 1485 | 1423 | 356 | 364 | 266 | 413 | 538 | 287 | 160 | 154 | 110 | 31 | 32 | 30 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | E 10 | E 10 | — | SE 15 | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | S 16 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 113 | 96 | 47 | — | 9 | — | 492 | 316 | 147 | 86 | 65 | 243 | 68 | 37 | 18 | 9 | 34 | 33 | 17 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | SSE 9 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 17 | ESE 9 | — | ENE 3 | E 14 | E 14 | SE 9 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | SW 5 |
| kJ | 9 | 67 | — | — | — | — | 776 | 96 | 163 | 51 | 206 | 48 | — | 1 | 4 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 9 | — | — | NNE 3 | — | NW 3 | NNW 3 | — | — | WNW 3 | W 3 |
| kJ | 942 | 1119 | 428 | 2110 | 5160 | 5839 | 5834 | 2866 | 2022 | 525 | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 253 | 2 | 222 | 257 | 257 | 41 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 8 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Hawkes Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cray Bay 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 Cray Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cray Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cray Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cray Bay 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 (Cray Bay) 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 Cray Bay 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.
Cray Bay is 26 km (16 miles) from the city of Hastings. If you plan a holiday in Hawkes Bay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hastings. Hastings has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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