Kahutara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, folks. Rusty here with the full 16-day look at what’s on the menu. It’s a quiet start, but the second half of the run is where the real action is. We’re looking at Kahutara, a reef and point setup that needs a specific swell direction to really fire. The water temp is sitting right where it should be for this time of year, so no dramas there.

The first few days are a bit of a slow burn, to be honest. Thursday the 13th to Saturday the 15th offer small, weak waves – think 2 ft to 4 ft. The combined energy is low, hanging around 115 to 254. It’s not a write-off, but you’ll be working for scraps. The wind is mostly light and cross-off, so the surface will be clean, but the swell just isn’t there.

Then things get a bit gnarly. Sunday the 16th sees a jump in size to 7 ft to 7 ft, but it’s a short-period, wind-affected swell from the south. The combined energy jumps to 689 and 723, but with rain showers and a moderate cross-shore wind, it’s going to be a messy, choppy crumble. The morning session is the better of the two, but it’s still marginal.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The standout window arrives on Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th, but keep your eyes on Monday. We’ve got a solid 5 ft SSW groundswell, with a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1408, and the wind is light and offshore all morning. That’s a recipe for clean, powerful, long-period lines wrapping into the point. This is a setup for experienced surfers, as the period will make it a bit bouncy on the take-off, but the shape should be world-class. Tuesday morning holds a similar energy, but with a shorter period and a stronger cross-off wind, it’s a step down.

The next big one is Wednesday the 19th. A 10 ft S swell with a 15-second period and light offshore wind. The combined energy is a staggering 3452. This is a serious, expert-only swell. The power will be immense, and the point should handle it beautifully. It’s a proper groundswell, so expect long, heavy lines. The afternoon drops to 8 ft, still solid, but with a light cross-shore wind.

After that, we settle into a nice run of smaller, cleaner surf from the 20th through the 24th. Swells range from 2 ft to 6 ft, mostly from the south with periods of 10 to 16 seconds. The winds are generally light and glassy or cross-off, keeping the surface clean. The combined energy is moderate, in the 125 to 736 range. It’s good, consistent fun for the average surfer, with the 24th morning offering a nice 3 ft swell with a 14-second period and clean conditions.

The final few days from the 25th to the 28th are a mixed bag. The 25th afternoon has a glassy 2 ft SE swell with a 16-second period and very clean conditions, which is a nice surprise. The 27th and 28th bring a bit more size from the ENE, but with a moderate breeze and cross-shore winds, the quality drops off.

Overall, the clear standout is Monday the 17th of August. That 5 ft, 15-second SSW groundswell with light offshore winds is the cream of the crop. Wednesday the 19th is a close second for the big-wave enthusiasts, but it’s for experts only.

Rusty.

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