Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag at Ohara. We’ve got a long stretch of small, messy surf coming up, but there is one proper window further out that’s got my attention, plus a few other moments where it could be worth a paddle if you pick your times right.

The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is right on the money for this time of year, so we’re not dealing with any weird ocean temperature swings.

For the first few days, we're looking at small and pretty ordinary conditions. Thursday afternoon has ankle to knee-high dribble with a light southerly breeze keeping it clean, but honestly, it’s not worth getting wet for. The energy is weak (77). Friday picks up a touch more push, and the afternoon sees a slightly better SSW wind, but it’s still very average. The weekend is more of the same, with some cross-off winds and a bit more size on Saturday, but the swell direction is all over the place and the quality is just not there. Sunday looks choppy on the morning, then the afternoon cleans up but the swell drops back off again.

There’s then a bit of a lull in the surfable options from Sunday afternoon right through to the early hours of Monday, August 24th. It’s not a total flat spell, but the conditions and the swell don’t line up to make it worthwhile.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. The standout window is Monday, August 24th. The morning is the one to circle. The wind goes glassy, absolutely nothing, and we get a solid 7ft SSE groundswell. The energy is strong (3024). This will be proper surf, the kind you daydream about when it's flat. It’s steep and powerful, so it’s not for the faint-hearted, and the short period on it might make it a bit walled at a beach setup, but for the experienced crew, this is the best on offer by a long shot. The afternoon backs off slightly with a moderate cross-off breeze, but it’s still a solid 8ft. Crowds are possible here, and this is a break that is often inconsistent, so be patient.

Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th see the swell get even bigger, pushing 10ft and then 12ft. The wind is favorable, offshore, but this is too big for Ohara. It’s expert-only territory, and even then, it looks like a washing machine. We’re talking well overhead and a serious paddle. The energy is strong to very strong (4087 then 3865). Thursday the 27th brings even more size with a strong stormy wind, which isn't going to be anyone's idea of a good time.

After that big run, things settle down but turn messy. The end of August through the first few days of September looks pretty grim, with a lot of onshore NE wind and lumpy, choppy surf. The size drops, but the quality is poor. The energy drops down to a more moderate level, but it’s not doing anyone any favors.

There’s a glimmer on the horizon on Wednesday, September 2nd. The wind goes light and cross-off, and we see a clean 7ft ESE swell. The energy is strong (1421). This could be another decent session, though it’s a long way out, so treat it as promising but not a lock.

After that, we run into the end of the forecast period, where it gets big again (10ft) but the direction swings to the NE and the winds are cross-shore. That looks more like a kite-surfing kind of setup than a paddling one, so I’d give it a miss.

So, to wrap it up: this period is mostly about patience. The one day to really clear your schedule for is the morning of the 24th of August. That’s your standout. Wednesday the 2nd of September could be a bonus, but it's a long way off. For the more experienced amongst you, some of those bigger days late in the month will be a test, but for most of us, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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