Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Ohara over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a mixed bag, and there’s a fair bit of waiting before we get the real juice.

The water is sitting at 81°F right now, which is about average for this time of year. Not hot, not cold, just your standard tropical bath.

First up, the swell is already pumping on Wednesday August 5th, with a solid 12 ft SE swell rolling in, but the wind is a noisy 16 mph from the NE, ripping cross-on. That’s no good for us. The ocean is a mess of chop and cross-onshore junk. The combined energy is strong (5361), but it’s wasted. We’re waiting for that wind to ease. You’ll want to sit this one out.

Thursday August 6th starts to look a bit more promising. The swell drops to 7 ft from the SSE, and by the afternoon, the wind switches to a light 6 mph cross-off from the ESE. That’s clean. The period is 12 seconds, a nice groundswell, and the energy is moderate (1705). It’s still a bit solid for beginners, but for experienced surfers, this is the first real window. Keep an eye on the morning which is still a bit cross-on, but the afternoon is where it’s at.

Friday August 7th is the standout. The swell is 7 ft from the S, period a solid 13 seconds, and that light cross-off wind from the SSE holds all day. The wave energy is moderate (1720 morning, 1556 afternoon), and conditions are clean. This is the best on offer in the first week. It’s not huge, but it’s quality. Don’t miss it.

Saturday August 8th still has clean conditions with a light cross-off, but the swell drops to 5 ft from the S. The energy is lower (905–1230), but it’s still a fun, clean day. Good for a longer board.

Now, here’s the gap. From Sunday August 9th through to Tuesday August 11th, the wind turns nasty. Sunday morning is cross-on from the NE, and by Sunday afternoon and Monday, we’re looking at a strong onshore blast from the NNE hitting 22 to 25 mph. The swell is still there, but it’s all blown out. Tuesday the 11th is worse – 25 mph onshore winds and rain showers. That’s a mess. Don’t even bother.

The poor conditions keep rolling through the middle of the month. Wednesday August 12th brings a near gale-force 31 mph from the NNE, and the swell is just a washed-out 6 ft. The energy is low to moderate. It’s a write-off. Through to the 15th, it’s a mix of risk of thunderstorms, lumpy cross-on winds, and tiny, weak swell around 4 ft. The energy is low (300–400 range). There’s nothing to recommend here.

Then, on Sunday August 16th, we get a glimmer. The morning shows a clean 5 ft ESE swell, cross-off wind from the ESE at 9 mph, and the energy is moderate (628). The period is only 10 seconds, so it’s a bit short, but it’s clean. The afternoon gets a bit mushy with a cross-shore breeze, but the morning is worth a look.

The real promise is further out, but it comes with a warning. The 19th of August sees a big 10 ft SSE swell with a 14-second period, and the wind is clean cross-off from the SE. The energy is very strong (4188). That’s a powerful, long-period groundswell. But here’s the thing – at 10 ft, this is expert-only territory. It’s also too big for this break, according to the forecast. The swell direction is right for the optimum (SE), but the size is a problem. The 20th of August is similar, with an 12 ft SE swell and light offshore winds, but again, it’s oversized. This is more of a spectacle than a session.

So, to wrap it up: the best surf in the first week is Friday, August 7th. Clean, consistent, a solid 7 ft from the S. That’s your pick. After that, the 16th of August morning is a decent fallback. The long-range stuff on the 19th and 20th is massive and clean, but it’s too big for Ohara. If you’re an expert and want to look at it, you’ll know what you’re doing. For everyone else, stick to the first Friday.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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