Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with 6,779 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period with SW 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 20) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Piha-The Bar in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Imperial
Alright, let's get this down in proper feet and miles per hour.
Water temp is about 57°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year.
First chance to get wet is Wednesday afternoon, the 19th of August. Piha-The-Bar is seeing a 7ft SW groundswell (13 sec period) with a moderate S breeze keeping it cross-off. The energy is pumping at 2409. It's a decent start, but you need to be on your game.
The absolute standout is Thursday morning, the 20th of August. The swell is 8ft from the SW, the period is a nice 14 seconds, and the wind is a dream – glassy offshore from the SSE at only 10 km/h. The energy is still huge at 2265. This is going to be clean, powerful, and well-shaped. For the experienced crew, this is the session to circle. Thursday afternoon is also a ripper with a 7ft SW swell and clean conditions.
Then we get a bit of a dud. Friday and Saturday are messy with onshore wind and dropping swell. Sunday the 23rd gets ugly with a 10ft, short-period windswell (8 sec) and 35 km/h winds. That's a total mess, best left alone.
Monday the 24th brings a big 10ft SW groundswell (15 sec period) in the afternoon, with energy at 4399, but the wind is cross-on, so it'll be lumpy. A session for the brave.
The week after has some cleaner windows. The 27th offers a 6ft SW swell with cross-shore wind.
But the real magic happens at the end of the month. Sunday morning the 30th of August has a modest 3ft, but very long period 18-second SW groundswell. The wind is a light cross-off from the E. The energy is 1127, but that period is insane. The sets will be clean, glassy, and few and far between. It's a point break kind of day. The whole Sunday and Monday look fantastic with light offshore winds and clean conditions. Then Tuesday the 1st of September brings a punchier 7ft WNW swell with a clean offshore breeze from the SE.
Bottom line: Thursday morning the 20th of August is your best bet for a big, clean swell, and the Sunday and Monday the 30th-31st of August are the ones for long-period, glassy perfection.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun morning, light winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3080 | 2265 | 1688 | 1144 | 1061 | 929 | 934 | 581 | 323 | 248 | 913 | 1781 | 724 | 1928 | 6779 | 5107 | 3766 | 3271 | 2222 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 2:08AM2.30m | 2:41PM2.23m | 3:02AM2.12m | 3:45PM2.11m | 4:12AM2.00m | 5:03PM2.07m | 5:34AM1.99m | 6:19PM2.13m | 6:44AM2.08m | 7:17PM2.27m | 7:37AM2.23m | 8:03PM2.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:31AM0.67m | 9:01PM0.85m | 9:28AM0.83m | 10:08PM0.97m | 10:37AM0.91m | 11:24PM0.99m | 11:51AM0.89m | 00:34AM0.91m | 12:54PM0.78m | 1:30AM0.77m | 1:44PM0.63m | 2:14AM0.60m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 17 | W 9 | SW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
| kJ | 3080 | 2265 | 1688 | 1144 | 1061 | 929 | 934 | 581 | 323 | 195 | 146 | 360 | 724 | 813 | 6779 | 5107 | 3766 | 3271 | 2222 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | W 24 | WSW 19 | WSW 16 | — | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 271 | — | — | 11 | 140 | 104 | — | 399 | 1928 | 102 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 | SSW 6 | — | — | WSW 15 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | — | — | 249 | 166 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 19 | 10 | 71 | 248 | 913 | 1781 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 85 | 127 | 120 | 127 | 312 | 325 | 340 | 337 | 73 | 121 | 231 | 153 | 234 | 340 | 340 |
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.
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