Haumoana River Mouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow start, so don’t rush out the door just yet.

We’ve got a bit of a gap to kick things off. From now until about the 13th of August, it’s mostly small, weak surf with onshore or cross-onshore winds messing things up. The energy is low, with combined swell energy values mostly sitting between 39 and 91 (weak). The swell heights are tiny, around 1 ft to 2 ft, and the period is around 10-12 seconds, so there’s a little bit of groundswell character, but not enough to get excited about. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

Then Thursday the 13th of August gets a little bump in size, but the wind is a problem. We see a 3 ft swell from the ENE with a short period of 6 seconds and combined energy hitting 133 (moderate), but with a moderate cross-onshore breeze at 12 mph, it’s choppy and messy. Not worth paddling out for.

Friday the 14th of August afternoon actually sees the biggest number of the first week, with a 4 ft swell from the ENE, period of 9 seconds, and combined energy of 416 (strong). But it’s onshore wind again, so the quality is shot. It’s a marginal call at best.

Saturday the 15th of August morning is a little cleaner with a light cross-offshore SSW breeze at 6 mph, and 3 ft from the east, period 10 seconds, energy 161 (moderate). It’s surfable but very ordinary. You might get a few fun ones if you’re desperate.

Sunday the 16th of August is windy again – a fresh breeze from the SSW at 19 mph, but notably, it’s cross-offshore and the surf is clean. The swell is 3 ft from the SE, period 9 seconds, energy 186 (moderate). For a river mouth, the clean conditions make it a better bet than most of the week, but it’s still only a 1/10.

Now, hold on to your board shorts. Monday the 17th of August afternoon is the standout of the entire outlook. We get a glassy, dead-calm afternoon with 3 ft of swell from the SE, period 9 seconds, energy 141 (moderate). The wind is zero, flat calm. That’s as good as it gets around here, and for Haumoana River Mouth, that is a rare treat. The waves will be clean and peeling, with a little long-period groundswell character. This is the one to aim for if you want a proper session.

Tuesday the 18th of August morning is also clean with a light offshore from the west at 6 mph, 3 ft from the SE, period 10 seconds, energy 142 (moderate). Another solid morning.

Moving into the second week, Friday the 21st of August morning and afternoon see a 4 ft SE swell with a 11-second period, energy up around 364-371 (strong). The winds are cross-offshore from the SW and S, so the conditions are clean. That’s a promising but less certain call, being a week away. If it holds, it’s a legitimate bigger swell for the river mouth.

Saturday the 22nd of August morning is the final real highlight. A 4 ft swell from the SE, period 11 seconds, combined energy 286 (strong), and a light offshore from the west at 6 mph. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions” – that’s a 2/10, the highest score in the whole outlook. That morning clean, with moderate energy, is genuinely the best we’re going to see.

After that, Sunday the 23rd of August drops back to 3 ft from the SE, period 10 seconds, energy 131 (moderate), with a light cross-offshore wind. It’s surfable but nothing special.

So, the takeaway: The first week is mostly a write-off. You’ve got to wait until Monday the 17th of August afternoon for that glassy, clean spell at Haumoana River Mouth. That’s the real gem. If you can wait a bit longer, Saturday the 22nd of August morning looks like the strongest, most reliable swell with clean offshore winds.

Keep an eye on the forecast, because after this dry spell, it’s going to turn on.

Rusty.

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