Mount Maunganui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Mount. It's a bit of a lean spell to start, but there’s a monster lurking way out in the window for the brave.

Right now, the water temp is sitting pretty average for the time of year, nothing wild to report on that front.

The first half of the run is quiet. From Thursday the 13th right through until the morning of Saturday the 15th, it’s grim. We’ve got a messy NE windswell mixing with poor conditions thanks to rain and onshore winds. The energy is weak at best, with readings around 420 to 342, and the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’s just a messy, close-range chop. Not worth paddling out for.

Things finally start to clean up on Saturday the 15th. The morning is the real standout here. A light SSW offshore breeze is blowing, and while the swell is only 5 ft from the ENE, it’s clean. The period is still short at 8 seconds and the energy is moderate (284), but for a beginner-friendly spot like Mount Maunganui, this is ideal. The offshore wind will keep the faces smooth, and the exposure to the swell is fairly good. Crowds are always a possibility here, but on a clean, small day it’s a great option for anyone wanting an easy paddle. The afternoon glass-off is clean too, but the swell drops a touch.

Sunday the 16th keeps the clean, offshore theme going with a solid SSW breeze in the morning, but the swell is dropping to 4 ft (227 energy). It’s rideable and clean, but not packing much punch. By Monday the 17th, the swell dies completely with tiny 1 ft waves and only 31 energy. From Monday through to the 26th, it’s a flat spell. The energy readings are down in the single digits for days at a time, with glassy mornings but absolutely no surf to speak of. A long, quiet gap.

Now, for the patient ones... Thursday the 27th of August is a massive anomaly. The forecast shows a 13 ft swell from the NNE with a 9-second period. The energy reading is an enormous 2048 in the morning and 2568 in the afternoon. That’s serious, heavy energy. However, the word is that this is just too big for Mount Maunganui. With a cross-shore wind and that kind of size, it’s for experts only. The break will be absolutely thumping, but it’s dangerous. If you’re a seasoned charger, this is the one day to watch, but it’s a long-range call so treat it with caution. The 28th still has some leftover 6 ft energy (612) but it’s marginal.

So, if you’re looking for the best of it, get out on Saturday morning the 15th for the cleanest, most user-friendly waves. The rest is a waiting game until that big pulse at the end, but that’s a whole different ballgame.

Rusty

Read more