Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 8,315 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Piha-The Bar this week:
The surf forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 17s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Piha-The Bar in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, lookin’ at what’s comin’ for Piha. The next 16 days have some solid swell but a whole lot of wind to sort through. Water temp is about 56°F, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so nothin’ weird.
We’ve got a bit of a wait before anythin’ really gets good. The first few days from Wednesday, the 26th, through to Friday, the 28th, are all blown out or just average. Wednesday morning has a 8ft WSW swell but that cross-on wind is makin’ a mess of it, and the wave energy is strong (2378). It’s just not worth paddlin’ out. Thursday afternoon is the first real glimmer – the wind goes glassy, calm as, and we’ve got 7ft of WSW swell, period 13 seconds, with moderate energy (1400). That window is clean, but it’s only for experienced surfers at that size. Friday and Saturday are mostly a write-off with onshore junk.
Now Sunday the 30th has some size – 7ft to 8ft SW and WSW swell – but the wind is messy cross-shore or cross-on, and the period drops to 9 seconds, so it’s weak and lumpy. Not your day.
The standout, and I mean the real standout, is Monday the 31st of August. We’re talkin’ a 15ft SW swell at 13 to 14 seconds, and the energy is enormous (7424 to 8315). This is big, powerful groundswell. But here’s the thing – it’s too big for this break, predicted to be over the top for even the experienced crew. The wind is cross-shore, but it’s goin’ to be a beast. If you’re an expert, this is the biggest, most powerful wave of the window, but you’d better know what you’re doin’. The long period (14 seconds) means it’s a proper groundswell, and at a beach break like Piha, it might be a bit too straight and heavy. For the average punter, this is a look-from-the-beach day.
Tuesday the 1st of September cleans up a bit. The swell drops to 12ft to 13ft, still big, but the wind is cross-shore and the energy is still very strong (6906 to 10256). Tuesday afternoon actually gets a score worth paddlin’ for – the wind is manageable, and that 12ft SW swell at 14 seconds is proper. Still big, still expert territory.
After that, Wednesday the 2nd onwards gets messy again. Strong winds, lumpy, cross-onshore junk. The swell stays big – 10ft to 13ft – but the wind is a killer. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th have a 8ft to 10ft swell but the wind is onshore and strong, so it’s blown out. The following week, from the 6th to the 10th, is more of the same: big swell but terrible wind. Sunday the 6th has a 10ft swell with fresh cross-onshore, and Monday the 7th has a 8ft swell with a very long period of 16 seconds – that’s a rare, deep groundswell, but the wind is strong cross-shore, so it’s messy. The wave energy is huge (6792), but you won’t enjoy it.
Honestly, the best on offer is Thursday afternoon, the 27th of August. That 7ft WSW swell with glassy conditions is your cleanest window. It’s not the biggest, but it’s the only time the wind truly cooperates. For the big-wave hunters, Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September are the ones to watch, but only if you’re a serious expert.
Crowds at Piha can be a thing, especially on the good days, so keep an eye out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WNW 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2378 | 2519 | 2002 | 1497 | 1289 | 1085 | 549 | 494 | 513 | 408 | 1553 | 1037 | 836 | 1036 | 3486 | 7424 | 8315 | 7958 | 6851 | 5465 | 4214 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:42PM2.60m | 8:58AM2.53m | 9:17PM2.74m | 9:34AM2.65m | 9:51PM2.85m | 10:08AM2.74m | 10:24PM2.91m | 10:43AM2.80m | 10:58PM2.93m | 11:18AM2.81m | 11:33PM2.88m | 11:56AM2.77m | 00:11AM2.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:25PM0.47m | 2:52AM0.43m | 3:03PM0.33m | 3:28AM0.27m | 3:38PM0.21m | 4:03AM0.15m | 4:14PM0.14m | 4:37AM0.08m | 4:49PM0.11m | 5:12AM0.06m | 5:27PM0.14m | 5:50AM0.09m | 6:07PM0.22m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
2378 | 2519 | 2002 | 1497 | 1289 | 1085 | 549 | 409 | 513 | 286 | 1553 | 336 | 609 | 751 | 539 | — | — | — | 6851 | 5465 | 4214 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | W 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 21 | — | WSW 13 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | WSW 24 | SW 24 | WSW 21 |
— | — | — | — | 111 | 103 | 292 | 494 | 362 | 408 | 170 | — | 116 | 180 | — | — | — | — | 55 | 22 | 90 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 | WSW 22 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 50 | 109 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 5 | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | SW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | — | SW 14 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 70 | — | — | — | — | 1037 | 836 | 1036 | 3486 | 7424 | 8315 | 7958 | — | 4769 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 289 | 339 | 312 | 106 | 0 | 1 | 312 | 11 | 44 | 8 | 73 | 73 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 73 | 85 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Piha-The Bar Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Piha-The Bar provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Piha-The Bar can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Piha-The Bar surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Piha-The Bar) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Piha-The Bar may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Piha-The Bar is 12 km (7 miles) from the city of Auckland. If you plan a holiday in Auckland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Auckland. Auckland has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











