Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into this one.

We’ve got a solid run of South-West swell heading our way, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag to start with. The early part of the week is a bit of a write-off with strong onshore winds, but once we get to the weekend, things really clean up. The standout period is definitely Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd. That’s where the magic happens.

For the first real surf, we’re looking at Thursday, July 30th. It’s not great, but it’s something. The swell is coming in at 7ft from the WSW with a period of 14 seconds, carrying moderate to strong energy (1430). The problem is a nasty cross-onshore wind from the N at 9 mph, making it choppy. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Friday, July 31st is a washout. The swell builds to 10ft from the W with a period of 15 seconds, but with a fresh W wind at 19 mph, it’s a lumpy, wind-blown mess. Leave this one for the kites.

Now, here’s the good stuff. Saturday, August 1st is our first standout. The morning is looking exceptional. We’ve got a solid 13ft swell from the WSW, 13 seconds, and the energy is pumping (5454). The wind is light from the E at 6 mph, crossing offshore, meaning the surf will be clean. This is expert territory at over 8ft, so only the experienced crew should be out. The afternoon cleans up even more, with an 12ft swell from the same direction and a perfect offshore SE breeze at 9 mph. That’s the session to aim for.

Sunday, August 2nd is still a great option. The swell drops to 7ft from the SW with a 12-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the S at 9 mph. The energy is solid (1313). This is a much more manageable size for advanced surfers, and the conditions will be clean all day.

Monday, August 3rd through Tuesday, August 4th sees the swell drop off and the wind swing back onshore, making it messy and marginal. The period is very long (19 seconds on Monday, 16 on Tuesday), which is beautiful for a point break, but at Piha-The-Bar it’s a beach break, so that long period will make it swingy and closey. Not ideal.

Wednesday, August 5th is a nice little bonus. The morning has a 7ft SW swell with a 14-second period and a clean offshore ESE wind at 9 mph. The afternoon is the real treat, though: glassy conditions with the wind dropping to 3 mph from the SW, and a 6ft WSW swell. That’s a beautiful, clean session for a few hours.

The second week is a bit of a letdown. From Thursday, August 6th onwards, the swell drops off significantly. There’s a tiny spike of 7ft on Thursday afternoon, but it’s only 8 seconds of period, so it’s weak and wind-affected. The rest of the week is mostly small, messy, and not worth paddling out for. There’s a brief window on Thursday, August 13th with a glassy morning and a 4ft WSW swell at 17 seconds, but it’s small and the energy is low (792). It’s a long way out, so don’t get your hopes up.

So, to sum it up: Saturday, August 1st is the absolute best day on offer. Big, powerful, clean, and offshore. Sunday is a close second. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty out.

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