Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks around Ohara.

First thing you need to know is the water’s sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Nice little bonus.

The opening act is a bit of a wild card. Monday afternoon, the 7th of September, we’ve got a solid 10 ft S swell rolling in with a 10-second period. The energy is moderate (2045), but the kicker is a strong SSW wind at 35 km/h. It’s cross-off, so the face will be clean, but that’s a heap of water for an inconsistent spot like Ohara. This is for the experienced crew only; beginners should sit this one out. It’s a big, powerful swell that might be pushing the limits of what this break can handle.

The real standout window kicks off Tuesday morning, the 8th. The swell drops to a very manageable 6 ft from the SSE, and the wind goes nearly glassy – just a whisper from the WSW at 5 km/h. The wave energy is still moderate (586), and the period is a solid 9 seconds. This is the sweet spot. Smooth, clean lines with that offshore texture. Crowds are possible, but for a morning session, you’ll be laughing.

Tuesday afternoon keeps the fun going. Swell eases to 5 ft from the S, but the wind swings offshore from the SSW at 15 km/h. The energy is moderate (449), and the conditions are described as clean. It’s a solid afternoon session.

Wednesday the 9th is a washout. The swell jumps back up above 7 ft, and the wind cranks from the SW at 40 km/h. It’s cross-off, but the wind is too strong, and the swell is too raw. It’s not going to be pretty. The same goes for Thursday the 10th – onshore wind and poor conditions.

We hit a quiet patch after that. Friday through Sunday has tiny swell, around 2 ft to 2 ft, mostly from the east with a long 14-second period. That’s a groundswell, but it’s barely breaking. Saturday morning the 12th is glassy, but the waves are just too small to get excited about. Sunday the 13th is better, with a light SE cross-off breeze and clean 2 ft waves. It’s surfable, but it’s a longboard-only kind of day.

Monday the 14th sees a slight bump to 4 ft from the SE, but the wind is iffy. The real story is the big stuff coming in the second week. The week of the 17th onwards looks excellent on paper, but it’s a long way out. The standout potential is Tuesday the 22nd of September. That afternoon, we’re looking at a massive 12 ft SSE swell with an 18-second period. The energy is off the charts (9113) – that’s very strong wave energy. The wind is cross-off from the WSW at 25 km/h. This is a monster groundswell. For a reef or point, this would be epic, but at a beach break, that long period might make it close out and be a handful. It’s definitely for experts only, and it’s a promising but very uncertain call from this far out. The week leading up to it is mostly blown out by strong onshore winds, so don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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