Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got the outlook for Piha – The Bar dialled in.

We’ve got a long, lumpy 16-day window ahead, but honestly, it’s going to be a battle for most of it. The big issue hitting this exposed west coast spot is the wind. Almost the entire run is dominated by fresh cross-shore to cross-onshore breezes, which is going to tear up that bar. The energy is there – we’re talking some serious swell numbers – but quality is going to be hard to come by. The first few days especially are a write-off for a decent paddle.

The whole first week starting the 30th of August to the 4th of September is basically a no-go. Sunday the 30th kicks off with an 8ft SW swell and 19 mph cross-winds, energy at (1543) but it’s just a lumpy, cross-chop mess. That swell jumps to 10ft and then 13ft through Monday and Tuesday, but the 22 mph winds only make it worse – strong wave energy in the thousands, yes, but the combined energy hitting (5928) on Monday morning is just messy. By Wednesday the 2nd, we see a drop in wind to 12 mph, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy on a 10ft WSW swell. Thursday the 3rd looks cleaner on paper with an offshore breeze, but it’s a 6ft swell with a weird period and the waves are still poor. Friday the 4th is another washout.

Now, after that rough start, there’s a glimmer for the second weekend. Saturday the 5th of September might be your best shot for a session. The morning shows an 12ft WSW swell at a solid 14 seconds, with cross-shore winds easing to 12 mph. It’s still got a bit of chop (energy at 4712), but the tide might play ball. This is the most promising early window – a heavy, powerful bar break that’s for advanced surfers only. Expect crowds possible here as it’s a known spot.

Then Sunday the 6th looks interesting for an afternoon paddle if you’re after size. The swell holds at 10ft from the WSW, but the period stretches to a very long 16 seconds. That kind of long-period groundswell at a beach/bar break can be a bit straight and wonky, but with a light 6 mph cross-onshore wind, it’s the cleanest it’s going to be all week. The energy is (5279). It’s still a beast, and only for the experienced.

The middle of the second week (7th to 9th) gets messy again with wind. But on Tuesday the 8th of September, we get an interesting setup. The swell is a solid 13ft from the W at 14 seconds (5883 energy), and the wind is a moderate cross-offshore at 12 mph, keeping things clean. The morning is the pick. This is a standout for the sheer power and potential for a barrel, but again, this is an expert’s game – that 13ft is well into the “too big for beginners” territory.

Looking further out to the 10th and 11th, we see another massive pulse on Thursday the 10th morning: a 13ft W swell with a 17-second period and energy readings hitting (10069)! That’s serious ocean energy, but the fresh cross-shore wind will put a lump on it. Friday the 11th is the same story with 22 mph winds and a 13ft swell, but the wind is just too strong and onshore to make it good.

The final days (12th to 14th) taper off with smaller swell but the wind remains a persistent problem, mostly cross or cross-on.

So, bottom line: Don’t even bother for the first five days. Keep your eyes on the morning of Saturday the 5th of September for a solid, doable session with decent power. The true standout for the pumped-up crew, however, is Tuesday the 8th of September morning – that 13ft, clean, cross-offshore window is the one to circle if you’ve got the skill and the nerve. The water temp is about average for this time of year at Piha.

- Rusty

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