Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the line for Piha. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but it ain’t gonna be a walk in the park. This is a heavy, exposed beach break, and it’s gonna be demanding.

The water temp is sittin’ around 58°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The main event is a serious, long-period groundswell from the southwest that’s gonna be pumpin’ for days. The combined energy is massive – we’re talkin’ 5,131 (moderate to strong energy) comin’ in on Wednesday the 15th. It’s a proper 10 ft swell with a 16-second period, but the wind is howlin’ straight offshore from the WNW. This makes for a clean, powerful, but very tricky wave. This is big, heavy stuff at 10 ft – only for the advanced crew. The offshore wind will groom it, but it’s a beast of a paddle and a real hold-down risk.

The swell stays big through the 16th and 17th – 10 ft down to 8 ft – but the wind swings around, gettin’ cross and cross-onshore, so the quality drops off. It’ll be lumpy and hard to get a clean one.

Now, keep your eye on Sunday the 19th. That’s the standout. The wind drops out and goes light cross-off from the SSW, with a 10 ft, 16-second SW groundswell still pumpin’ at 4,518 (strong energy). The report says it’s clean, and for a spot like Piha, that’s a rare treat. The water’s still gonna be chunky, but the conditions will be far cleaner than the mess earlier in the week. This is your best bet for a proper session – still just for experienced surfers, though.

The swell slowly backs off into the next week, droppin’ to 6 ft and then 5 ft by the 22nd. The wind goes glassy on the morning of Wednesday the 22nd, with a clean 5 ft SW swell (643 energy). That’s a much more manageable size, and the glassy conditions will make for some really fun, clean runners. Piha can be magic when it’s like that.

The gear then goes a bit limp for a few days – small, short-period rubbish from the 23rd to the 25th. Not worth paddlin’ out for.

Then, hold onto your board, because Monday the 27th of July sees a massive jump back up to 12 ft, with a 16-second period and combined energy of 5,590 (strong). The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but the swell is there. That’s a big, dangerous day.

The absolute peak of the whole run looks like it’ll be Wednesday the 29th of July. We’re lookin’ at a 13 ft, 15-second SW swell with a combined energy of 7,646 (very strong). The wind is a stiff cross-off from the SSW at 18 mph. That’s a massive, powerful, clean wave. It’s gonna be a wall of water. That is only for the absolute top-end experts. The following morning, Thursday the 30th, the swell is even bigger at 15 ft, but the wind is a bit messier. It’s gonna be a wild week.

So, the pick of the litter: Sunday the 19th for the best combination of size and clean conditions, and that glassy morning on Wednesday the 22nd if you want something a bit more user-friendly. The big stuff on the 29th is a spectacle, but you’d better know what you’re doin’. Crowds are “sometimes” an issue at Piha, so on those clean days, expect a few other locals in the water.

Rusty.

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