Napier - Hardings Road Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Napier area.

I’ll be straight with you, this is a flat spell. We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing. The first record doesn’t show up until the 31st of July, and honestly, it’s barely a whisper. There’s a solid gap of just about nothing after that, with a few tiny pulses that won’t get you excited. The only real glimmer of hope is a pulse that shows up in the second week, but it’s a long way out.

The overall picture is a bit grim. The only break on the radar is Napier – Hardings Road, a sheltered point break that’s inconsistent. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but even then, you’ll be waiting for scraps.

Starting off on Friday, July 31st, the afternoon has a tiny 1ft NE swell bumping in with a short period of 5 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 14, and there’s a cross-shore wind from the NW at 12 mph. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. It’s pretty poor.

Then we get a long dry spell. Most of the first week of August is completely flat or has negligible, knee-high dribble. The morning of Saturday, August 1st offers a 1.0ft easterly swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore from the SW at 12 mph. The energy is still only 19, so it’s clean but tiny. The next few days are just a series of 0.3ft to 0.7ft pulses with no power.

The morning of Friday, August 7th sees a bit of a change. The wind turns glassy from the W at 3 mph, and the swell nudges up to 1ft from the NE. The period is a very short 4 seconds, so it’s gutless. The energy is only 4. It’s a pretty morning for a paddle, but not a surf.

The one standout for the whole period is the morning of Thursday, August 13th. The combined swell energy jumps to a moderate 202, with a 3ft east swell running on a 10-second period. The wind is a cross-onshore from the N at 9 mph, which will make it a bit lumpy. This is a pulse of energy, but it’s over a week away, so keep your expectations in check. It’s the only time the energy gets into the three-digit range.

The following days, the 14th and 15th of August, settle back down to small, clean 2ft to 2ft easterly swells with offshore winds, but the energy is back down to the 50-52 range. It’s clean, but you’ll be on a longboard searching for a bump.

So, to sum it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. The morning of the 13th of August is the only window that has any real substance, but it’s a long-range call and the wind isn’t perfect. If you’re desperate, the 14th and 15th offer clean, tiny waves. It’s a tough outlook, but that’s winter for you.

Rusty.

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