Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for the next couple of weeks. We’re looking at a pretty slow start, but there’s a proper pulse building down the track that’s got my attention.

We’ve got a bit of a dry spell at the beginning. The first few days are producing only small, weak surf. The swell energy is in the low hundreds (108) on Wednesday morning, and it’s not really doing much. The waves are tiny, around 1.9 ft to 2.0 ft, and while the wind is light and cross-off, it’s just not enough to get excited about. This continues through Thursday and Friday, with swell heights barely scraping 2.0 ft and energy staying under 130 (129). The wind stays light and offshore on Friday, which is pleasant, but the waves are still just ordinary.

We finally see a little bump in the swell on Saturday the 22nd, with the swell height nudging up to 2.6 ft in the morning and 3.2 ft in the afternoon. The energy climbs to 196 and then 235, but there’s a risk of thunderstorms and the wind is cross-off, so it’s still pretty marginal. The real turning point looks like Sunday morning, the 23rd. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell holds at 2.9 ft with 10-second period and energy of 217. The report says “expect good surf conditions,” and that glassy morning is the best we’ll see in that first week. It’s still small, but clean. The afternoon turns offshore, but the swell drops a bit.

From Monday the 24th, things get a little messy. The swell is inconsistent and the periods are all over the place, with a 12-second period on Monday morning but poor conditions. The wind picks up, and it’s not until Tuesday the 25th that we get a proper clean window. Tuesday morning has light offshore winds, swell from the ESE at 2.6 ft, but with a very long 14-second period and energy of 330. That’s a proper groundswell pulse. The afternoon holds similar with 2.6 ft and 13 seconds, energy at 406, and gentle offshore winds. This is a standout for the cleaner, smaller waves, but that long period (14 seconds) means it’ll be a bit more straight at the beach, so look for a point or reef if you can.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 26th, the swell jumps up to 4.6 ft and 4.9 ft, with energy hitting 608 and 813. The period is 11-12 seconds, so there’s real power. The wind is cross-off, but the report flags it as marginal due to tide or conditions. Not quite the best time.

The real standout of the whole outlook is Thursday the 27th. The morning swell is 5.6 ft from the S with a 14-second period, and the energy is a massive 1464. The wind is cross-off, and the report says the conditions are marginal for the break, but the sheer power is undeniable. The afternoon is still pumping at 4.6 ft, 14 seconds, and 1064 energy. This is a serious groundswell. For a more experienced surfer, this is the day to circle. The long period (14 seconds) will make it peaky and powerful, but at a beach break, it might be a bit too straight. Best on a point or reef.

Friday the 28th settles slightly, with 3.6 ft in the morning and 3.2 ft in the afternoon, but the wind goes offshore and moderate, and the energy is still strong at 721 and 704. The report says “expect very good surf conditions,” and the moderate offshore wind will keep it clean. That’s a solid second-best option.

From Saturday the 29th onward, the swell gets bigger. Saturday afternoon sees 6.2 ft from the ESE with a short 7-second period, but energy of 906. The wind is cross-off. That’s a lot of water moving, but messy.

And then comes the big stuff. From Sunday the 30th, the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. The swell height hits 11.5 ft, then 13.1 ft, and the energy goes into the thousands (6339, 5635, 7693). The wind is offshore or cross-off, but the report is clear: the swell is too big for this spot. That’s only for experts, and even then, it’s likely to be a wild mess. The wind goes onshore and cross-onshore early September, so that big swell gets chopped up. The last few days of the outlook are just too big and messy for any real recommendation.

The best on offer:
The standout is Thursday the 27th. The swell is 5.6 ft from the S, with a 14-second period,

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