Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Ohara. It’s gonna be a bit of a test of patience, with a real slow start and a long wait before the goods show up.

The first few days are pretty much a write-off. The swell is small and weak, with combined energy around 119 (moderate energy) on Sunday the 30th, but the wind is onshore, messing up what little there is. We’re looking at poor surf conditions right through the start of the week. Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st are all cross-on breezes and choppy, messy water. The swell does bump up a bit on Tuesday to 3 ft from the ESE, but the wind just kills it. You’d be better off staying home.

A real gap here – there’s nothing worth paddling out for until Wednesday the 2nd of September. That morning, we finally get a clean window. The wind swings light offshore from the south at just 3 mph, and it’s glassy. The swell is still small, 3 ft from the ESE with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 182. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary. The afternoon cleans up even more with a moderate offshore, but it’s still not big. Thursday the 3rd keeps the offshore wind going, and the afternoon sees a shift to a 3 ft swell from the south with a short 8-second period, but the wind is strong offshore at 15 mph. The combined energy bumps to 220 (moderate), and the conditions are clean. This is the best of the first week, but it’s still just a small, clean wave.

Now, if you’re looking for the standout, you have to wait until the second week. It gets ugly again from Friday the 4th through Monday the 7th as a strong NE wind slams the coast and a building swell gets all chopped up. The energy gets huge – over 1000 – but the wind is howling from the NE at 18 to 22 mph, making it look more like a kiteboarding zone than a surf spot. Swells between 6 ft and 8 ft, but it’s all cross-on and lumpy. Not for us.

The real gold is Tuesday the 8th of September. That morning, Ohara turns it on. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the east at 9 mph, the swell is a solid 6 ft from the ESE with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1194. The water is a touch warmer than average for this time of year at 83°. The conditions are clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The waves will have some punch, and the offshore wind will groom them nicely. If you can only pick one session, that Tuesday morning is it.

The rest of the forecast gets messy again. Wednesday the 9th sees a massive 13 ft swell from the SSE, but it’s coming with a strong cross-onshore wind and a period of 12 seconds. The energy is a massive 4843, but the wind is just too strong to hold it open. It’s a bomb, but it’s blown out. Thursday the 10th is even bigger, with a 15 ft swell from the SE, but again, strong onshore winds from the NNE at 25 mph. These are expert-only, and even then, it’s likely a washing machine. The following days see the swell drop but the wind stays onshore, keeping things poor all the way through to the 14th of September.

So, in short: a long quiet stretch, then a couple of clean, small days in the first week, but the real highlight is Tuesday the 8th. Mark it in your calendar.

Rusty.

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