Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Ohara.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a flat spell. The first few days are a write-off, with messy, onshore winds and poor conditions. Tuesday and Wednesday morning have some waist to chest-high swell, around 5 ft to 7 ft, with a south swell direction, but the wind is cross-off and strong, especially Wednesday with 25 mph gusts. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 82°, but that’s about the only good thing. The combined energy is moderate, around 491 to 621, but it’s just not clean enough to get excited about.

Then Thursday through to the weekend of the 10th to 13th, it’s a total bust. Swell drops to 3 ft or less, winds are cross-on or onshore, and the period is either short or weird. The energy drops to the 200s and 300s (weak). You’d be better off doing something else.

Now, here’s the first real window: Monday the 14th into Tuesday the 15th. Ohara wakes up. We’re looking at clean, offshore winds from the SSE and S, light at 3 mph to 9 mph, with a 4 ft swell from the SE, period 9 seconds. The energy is solidly moderate, around 344 to 347. This is the standout in the whole forecast. The sets will be clean, the wind is glassy to gentle offshore, and the break is inconsistent, but when it pulses, it’ll be worth it. If you can get out on the Monday morning, that’s your best bet. Expect some crowds, but with the inconsistency, it’s not a madhouse.

From the 16th onwards, it’s a slow decline again. The 17th and 18th are messy, with onshore winds and poor conditions. The 19th and 20th see a bit more size, 5 ft to 6 ft, but the wind is blowing 28-37 mph cross-on, so it’s blown out, messy, and really only interesting for kite surfers.

Then, the third week of September shows a massive pulse. On the 21st and 22nd, we get a huge swell, 8 ft to 12 ft, with long period swells (13-16 seconds) from the SE and ENE. The energy is crazy strong, in the thousands (5,198 to 5,955). But the wind is cross-on or onshore on the 21st, and by the 22nd afternoon, the wind is better, but the swell is just too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, the break is inconsistent. It’s a look-and-see situation, but the tide and wind on the 22nd afternoon might make it work for a very experienced crew. The 23rd is similar, with 10 ft of groundswell, but the wind is onshore, so it’s a no-go.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is the Monday morning, 14th of September, for clean, waist-high plus waves. The second week has a massive, daunting swell that’s only for the brave and the experts. Keep an eye on the long-range forecast, but for now, the 14th is your day.

Rusty

Read more