Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Ohara for the next couple of weeks.

We’re starting off slow. The first few days are pretty flat – no real surf to speak of. The swell is tiny and weak, with combined energy of all swells directed here at 179 (moderate wave energy) on Monday the 20th, but it’s just not enough. Water temp is 25°, which is about normal for this time of year.

Your first real chance to get wet is Tuesday morning, July 21st. We’ve got a 1.1m easterly swell with a 10-second period, and the energy bumps up to 290 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a cross-off SW breeze at 15 km/h, keeping things clean. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first session worth paddling out for.

Then Wednesday the 22nd morning is a beauty. The wind drops to glassy – zero km/h – and that 1.0m easterly swell at 10 seconds will be smooth as glass. Combined energy is 211 (moderate wave energy). This is the best of the first week. Get out early.

Thursday the 23rd morning stays glassy with a light 5 km/h southerly breeze, but the swell drops to 0.8m. Still surfable, but you’ll be hunting for the good ones.

From Friday the 24th through to Sunday the 27th, it’s small and messy. The wind is cross-on or onshore, and the swell is weak. A few sessions on the 27th Monday afternoon show a 0.6m SE swell with 10 seconds and offshore SSW wind at 20 km/h, giving a combined energy of 200 (moderate wave energy). It’s clean, but tiny.

The real standout is further out. On Thursday the 30th of July, the combined energy jumps to 706 (strong wave energy) with a 1.4m SW swell at 11 seconds, but the wind is onshore from the north – that’s a no-go. Wait for it.

Friday the 31st of July morning is the best of the entire forecast. Glassy conditions, a 1.8m SW swell at 8 seconds, and combined energy of 584 (strong wave energy). That’s a fun size, but it’s a short period, so it’ll be a bit quick and lumpy – more for the experienced crew. The 1.8m size is a bit too big for beginners, but for intermediates and up, this is the one to mark on the calendar.

Saturday the 1st of August morning still has some energy at 1.6m SW, but the period is down to 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit messy. Combined energy of 517 (strong wave energy). The wind is cross-off, so it’s rideable, but not as good as Friday.

After that, the swell drops right off again into the second week, with small, long-period easterly swells and clean offshore winds, but you’ll be scratching for anything over waist-high. Combined energy stays around 150-200 (moderate wave energy) – it’s a block of small, clean but ordinary surf.

So, to sum it up: Wednesday the 22nd morning for the glassy, clean fun, and Friday the 31st of July morning for the best size and conditions – that’s the standout. The rest is small or messy. Ohara is inconsistent, and this stretch shows it – but when it comes together, it’s worth the wait.

Rusty.

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