Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

To be straight with you, the first ten days are a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a long, quiet stretch with no real surf to speak of. From Friday the 24th right through to the end of July, the swell is tiny and the conditions are ordinary. You’ll see a few small, weak waves around 1ft to 2ft, but with light onshore or cross-shore winds and poor surf quality, it’s not worth paddling out for. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking triple digits at best (143) and often dropping below 100. The water temperature is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing unusual.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday the 3rd of August. The swell starts to build, and by the afternoon at Ohara, we’ve got a 3ft ESE groundswell with a period of 9 seconds. The wind goes offshore, clean, and the combined energy jumps to 225 (moderate). It’s a solid step up, but the real standouts are just around the corner.

Tuesday the 4th of August is the one to circle. The morning brings a 4ft SE groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds, and the wind is offshore – gentle and clean. The combined energy is a strong 1094. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The swell direction is matching the optimum for this spot, and you’ll be looking at clean, well-shaped waves. The period is long, so expect longer lulls between sets, but the energy is there. By the afternoon, the swell builds to 6ft (15 seconds) and the energy hits 1506. It’s getting bigger, so stay sharp if you’re not an expert.

Wednesday the 5th of August is the top of the heap. The morning delivers an 8ft SE groundswell at 16 seconds, with a light cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is a very strong 3283. This is expert territory – too big for beginners – but for the crew who know what they’re doing, it’s prime. The swell direction is spot on. The afternoon sees the swell push to 10ft, and while the conditions are still clean, the forecast says it’s getting too big for this break. The morning session is the one to aim for.

After that, from Thursday the 6th, the swell balloons to 15ft and up, but with strong onshore winds and the size being way too big for Ohara, it’s a no-go for surfing. More of a kite-surfing spectacle if anything.

Bottom line: The first week-plus is a dud. The best of the entire 16-day window is the morning of Wednesday the 5th of August – that 8ft SE groundswell with light wind and huge energy is the standout. Tuesday the 4th is also a fantastic option, slightly smaller but still powerful.

Stay patient, and get ready for that big pulse.

Rusty.

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