Karekare Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our local patch. It’s a mixed bag, but there’s some real beauty waiting for us if we’re patient.

The action kicks off on Thursday the 13th of August. Thursday morning is looking pretty special to start. Karekare, the main event here, is showing a clean 3ft groundswell from the WSW. The wind is glassy, dead calm, and the water is sitting at 57°F, which is about average for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate at 814, and it’s setting up for some super clean, fun waves. It’s not huge, but it’s a great way to ease into the period.

Thursday afternoon, the swell bumps up to 5ft from the W with a light onshore breeze, but it’s a bit more of a mixed bag. The real standout is Friday the 14th. Friday morning delivers a solid 6ft swell from the WSW with a very long period of 16 seconds and a light offshore wind. The combined energy jumps to 2000, so there’s some real push. This is a classic groundswell, perfect for a point break or reef, but at Karekare, a beach setup, that long period might make it a bit straight. Still, for experienced surfers, it’s excellent. The wind holds clean through the afternoon with a 7ft swell and cross-off conditions.

Saturday the 15th is a bit of a write-off for me. The morning is a messy 7ft with a cross-shore wind, and by the afternoon, a strong cross-onshore wind of 19 mph and 8ft swell makes it poor. The energy is high at 4280, but it’s just lumpy. Kite surfers might have a ball, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.

Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th are for experts only. The swell is pushing 10ft to 12ft from the SW, with combined energy up over 6000. That’s a lot of power. The wind is messy, and honestly, it’s too big for this break unless you’re on a gun and know what you’re doing.

We start to see a clean-up on Tuesday the 20th of August. Thursday morning the 20th, the swell drops back to a clean 7ft from the SW, with a light cross-off wind and a period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 1761, and it’s looking clean. This is another good window for the more experienced crew.

The rest of the second week is a slow fade. Friday the 21st through Monday the 24th of August, we’re looking at smaller swells, 3ft to 5ft, with periods in the 13 to 14 second range. The wind is often offshore or glassy, so the conditions will be clean. There’s a real nice little window on Monday the 24th afternoon with a glassy 3ft swell from the WSW and energy at 624. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s a fun, mellow session.

There’s a bit of a spike on Wednesday the 26th of August, with a 4ft swell from the WSW but a very long period of 17 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 771, and with a light cross-off wind, it could be a sneaky good day, but that long period might be a bit tricky.

The period ends on a giant note. Friday the 28th of August, the swell jumps to 13ft from the W with a short period of 8 seconds, and then 16ft from the W with a 12-second period. The energy is massive at 7541. The wind is light, but this is just too big for Karekare. It’s a monster swell, and unless you’re a tow-in specialist, it’s a day to watch from the cliff.

So, the best on offer? Hands down, Friday the 14th of August for the experienced crew, and the glassy mornings on Thursday the 13th and Monday the 24th for a clean, fun session. Don’t sleep on Friday the 21st either, that’s a nice clean offshore morning.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Read more