Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about what we’ve got on the horizon. Looking at the whole 16-day window, it’s a pretty rough start with plenty of onshore junk, but there’s a very real pulse of proper swell coming in the second week that will clean up nicely if the wind plays ball.

The first few days are a write-off. Tuesday and Wednesday of this week at Ohara are small, weak, and bumpy with a cross-onshore breeze mucking things up. The swell’s around 3 ft with a period of 10 to 12 seconds, but the energy’s low (combined energy of all swells directed here sits at 314 and then drops to 279). It just doesn’t have any push or shape. Thursday and Friday look even worse – some rain, onshore wind picking up, and the wave heights are tiny or messy. From the 4th through to the 8th of September, it’s a real slog. Winds are howling from the northeast at 18 to 28 mph, the swell jumps up to 7 ft to 10 ft but it’s all wind-affected rubbish with poor surf conditions. The combined energy spikes to over 1500, but it’s not doing you any favours – it’s just big and ugly. That 10 ft on the 7th is onshore and impossible.

Then we get to the 9th of September, and things get interesting. There’s a big groundswell filling in from the SE at 13 ft with a long period of 13 seconds. The combined energy of all swells directed here is a massive 5503. The wind’s cross-shore in the morning, so it’s not perfect, but look – this is serious power. It’s actually too big for this break at that size – 13 ft is expert-only territory, and with that long period, it’ll be pitching and heaving. Not for the faint-hearted. The water temperature is about average for the time of year here. The 10th of September is the real standout. Offshore wind from the south at 15 mph, still that 13 ft SE swell at 12 seconds, and the energy is even higher at 5864. The conditions are clean, glassy-like offshore flow, and this is the best on offer for the whole outlook. This is the day for experienced surfers only to go out and get some memorable ones at Ohara. That SSE direction is right in the optimum window for this spot.

After that peak, the swell slowly backs off but stays solid through the 13th and 14th. By the 13th, it’s 8 ft from the SSE with clean offshore wind and a rating of “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” in the afternoon. The energy’s still high at 1544. By the 14th, it’s dropping to 8 ft and then 7 ft, but still clean. For the second week, overall, there’s a good three to four days of solid, clean, offshore wind with a dropping swell. Keep an eye on that 10th and the 13th of September – those are the ones to circle on the calendar.

That’s the read. Stay safe out there.

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