Surf Forecasts:
Happy Jacks surf forecast from 17 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 20 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, S swell with 4,340 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Happy Jacks this week:
The surf forecast for Happy Jacks over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Happy Jacks in the next 16 days are 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) 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 4.5m 13s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Happy Jacks over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 16 | S 14 | ESE 11 | S 9 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 304 | 270 | 207 | 204 | 723 | 320 | 68 | 1312 | 3269 | 3922 | 1991 | 705 | 287 | 184 | 335 | 383 | 232 | 935 | 1301 | 1468 | 961 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:45AM1.66m | 11:11PM1.59m | 11:34AM1.60m | 11:55PM1.52m | 12:25PM1.54m | 00:41AM1.44m | 1:14PM1.49m | 1:29AM1.38m | 2:00PM1.46m | 2:18AM1.35m | 2:46PM1.45m | 3:08AM1.35m | 3:33PM1.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:05PM0.42m | 5:24AM0.45m | 5:53PM0.44m | 6:09AM0.46m | 6:41PM0.45m | 6:53AM0.45m | 7:29PM0.44m | 7:39AM0.44m | 8:15PM0.41m | 8:29AM0.42m | 9:01PM0.38m | 9:20AM0.39m | 9:48PM0.34m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 16 | S 14 | ESE 11 | E 10 | SE 11 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 17 | E 16 | E 16 | ESE 14 |
| kJ | 304 | 270 | 207 | 204 | 723 | 320 | 68 | 78 | 30 | 3922 | 1991 | 705 | 287 | 184 | 35 | 383 | 232 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 40 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | S 16 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NE 8 | SE 11 | NE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | NE 3 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | — | S 16 | S 18 | ESE 10 | E 16 | ESE 16 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 5 | 47 | 32 | 39 | 138 | 107 | 28 | 55 | 24 | 33 | 20 | 3 | 17 | 15 | — | 129 | 226 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 92 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 7 | S 16 | S 19 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 18 | — | — | — | SE 14 | NE 3 | NE 10 | S 19 | NE 12 | — | SE 10 | E 17 | E 16 | — | — |
| kJ | 17 | 1 | 82 | 175 | 50 | 50 | 25 | — | — | — | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | — | 27 | 6 | 20 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 6 | SW 6 | SW 4 | — | — | SW 4 | S 9 | S 11 | — | — | NNE 4 | — | NE 2 | S 6 | — | — | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | — | 30 | 10 | 16 | — | — | 73 | 1312 | 3269 | — | — | 5 | — | 1 | 335 | — | — | 935 | 1301 | 1468 | 961 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 367 | 90 | 86 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 119 | 7 | 94 | 100 | 104 | 162 | 72 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Happy Jacks 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 Happy Jacks Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Happy Jacks provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Happy Jacks can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Happy Jacks 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 (Happy Jacks) 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 Happy Jacks 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.
Happy Jacks is 39 km (24 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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