Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for your local stretch.

We’ve only got one spot on the radar for the next 16 days, and it’s a tricky one. The first window of potential surf kicks off on Monday, August 3rd, but honestly, don’t get your hopes up for the first several days. The wind is howling from the NNE and NE, slamming straight onshore, making things a lumpy, cross-onshore mess. The swell is decent in size, but with that wind, it’s a write-off. We’re talking about a solid 6 ft to 13 ft of SE groundswell through to Wednesday, August 5th, but the energy is massive (between 2159 and 8427), and it’s just being shredded by the wind. Not worth paddling out for.

The wind finally starts to ease up on Thursday, August 6th. The morning brings a gentle cross-shore breeze from the ENE, and by the afternoon, it’s clean cross-offshore from the ESE. The swell is still pumping at 12 ft from the SSE, with a very long period of 15-16 seconds and wave energy still in the strong range (6115 to 6907). This is big, powerful groundswell, and while the wind is favorable, this size is strictly for the experienced crew. It’s too big for beginners. The very long period will make these waves pack a punch, so it’s best suited for more forgiving breaks, but at Ohara, with that exposure, only the experts should be looking at this.

Friday, August 7th, and Saturday, August 8th, see the swell drop a bit to 5 ft to 8 ft, but the cross-offshore winds hold. The period is still long (14-15 seconds), which means good shape, but the surf forecast is marginal. The energy is still high (1688 to 3316), but the conditions are just okay, not great. You could find a clean one, but it’s not a standout.

Then we hit another rough patch. From Sunday, August 9th, through early the next week, the wind swings back cross-on or onshore, gusting up to 25 mph, and the swell becomes messy and lumpy. The energy is all over the place, but the onshore wind makes it a no-go.

Now, here’s the interesting part. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 12th. The forecast is showing glassy conditions in the morning from the ESE with a light air, swinging to a clean cross-offshore in the afternoon. The swell is a manageable 6 ft to 7 ft from the ESE with a period of 12 seconds. The wave energy is moderate (1074 to 1453). This is the real standout. The water temperature is sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’re in for a comfortable session. It’s excellent surf conditions, but it’s still sized for experienced surfers. The period is on the shorter side for a groundswell, so the sets will be a bit more frequent and maybe a little less predictable, but with glassy conditions, it’ll be clean and fun.

After that, it’s back to marginal conditions with cross-shore winds and onshore breezes for the rest of the forecast period. The swell hangs around 5 ft to 8 ft, but the wind ruins it for the most part. There’s a bit of a chance on Thursday, August 14th, but it’s marginal at best.

So, the bottom line: the first week is a washout. The only real window of opportunity is Thursday, August 6th, for the big-wave chargers, but the absolute best bet for cleaner, more manageable surf is Wednesday, August 12th. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecasts, but it’s the one that’s got my attention.

Rusty.

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