
Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 7,216 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. 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 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, looking you straight in the eye. We’ve got a proper run of swell on the way for Piha, so let’s get into it.
The pattern over the next couple of weeks is all about the west and south-west groundswells, with a lot of energy piling in. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty average for this time of year, nothing wild to report there.
We kick off this Tuesday, the 11th of August, with the first decent chance. The morning will be glassy with the wind barely a breath from the ENE at 3 mph. We’re looking at a 1.3m swell from the WSW with a period of 14 seconds – proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is sitting at 872 (moderate), but that clean face with no wind is the real winner here. It’s an advanced wave, so don’t be a hero if you’re not ready for it, and crowds are sometimes a thing here, so keep your head on a swivel.
Thursday the 13th is where it starts to get serious. By the afternoon, we’ve got a 1.3m WSW swell but the period jumps to 17 seconds and the combined energy rockets to 1902 (strong). That’s a lot of water moving, and the wind is a light cross-off from the ENE at 6 mph, keeping it clean for experienced surfers. This is the first standout for the confident crew – that long period will wrap in proper, but it’ll be a bit fat on the sets at this size.
Friday the 14th keeps the momentum. Morning swell is 1.5m, building to 1.7m in the afternoon, both from the WSW with a 16-second period and light ENE/E winds. Combined energy is in the 1600s (strong). Clean, solid, and consistent.
Then Saturday the 15th morning is the pick of the first week. The wind goes offshore from the SSE at 6 mph, the swell hits 2.2m from the WSW at 17 seconds, and the combined energy is a thumping 2905 (strong). This is expert territory now, but for those who can handle it, this is your dawny – glassy, powerful lines.
Sunday the 16th holds size at 2.5m, but the wind swings stronger from the SSW, making it less inviting. Still big, but the quality drops off with that cross-off wind building to 16 mph in the arvo.
Now, looking ahead, Monday the 17th of August is the real standout for the crew who charge. The morning brings a 3.5m SW swell with a 14-second period, proper offshore from the SSE at 12 mph, and the combined energy is monstrous at 5570 (very strong). This is exceptional for experts only – it’s a big, powerful ocean out there. If you’re not on it, you’re watching from the rocks.
We get a bit of a breather through the middle of the week, but there’s clean 1.7m to 2.2m swell on the 18th, 19th, and 20th, with light winds keeping things tidy for experienced surfers.
The 24th of August (Monday) shows a bit of a weird one – a 2.1m swell from the WSW but with a period of only 7 seconds. That’s short period windswell, combined energy at 714 (moderate). It’s offshore from the ESE at 12 mph, so it’ll be clean, but those short-period waves don’t have the same grunt. Could be fun for a grovel.
The final standout in this window is the 25th of August (Tuesday). Morning sees a solid 4.0m SW swell with an 11-second period and strong offshore from the ESE at 16 mph. Combined energy is 4067 (very strong). This is a big, heavy day – clean offshore lines, but only for those with serious skills. The wind does hold offshore through the 26th (Wednesday) as well, with a 3.0m SW swell and 14-second period, also an option if you want to avoid the peak crowd.
So, if you’re after the absolute best on offer: the dawn patrol on Saturday the 15th of August for the big, clean stuff, and Monday the 17th of August for the real heavy hitters. Late in the window, the 25th of August is another ripper, but it’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the S by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 | WSW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | W 10 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
672 | 536 | 572 | 480 | 422 | 387 | 290 | 932 | 1150 | 1155 | 1451 | 949 | 2833 | 4123 | 5800 | 3647 | 2883 | 3835 | 5570 | 3446 | 2039 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 8:30PM2.84m | 8:53AM2.73m | 9:19PM3.00m | 9:41AM2.84m | 10:03PM3.09m | 10:25AM2.90m | 10:45PM3.10m | 11:07AM2.89m | 11:25PM3.03m | 11:47AM2.83m | 00:04AM2.89m | 12:27PM2.71m | 00:43AM2.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:10PM0.23m | 2:45AM0.18m | 3:02PM0.08m | 3:35AM0.04m | 3:49PM-0.02m | 4:20AM-0.05m | 4:34PM-0.05m | 5:03AM-0.06m | 5:17PM-0.01m | 5:43AM0.00m | 5:58PM0.11m | 6:23AM0.13m | 6:39PM0.27m | ||||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
— | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | W 10 | W 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
672 | 536 | 346 | 480 | 422 | 387 | 290 | 647 | 1150 | 1155 | 1451 | 949 | 2833 | 4123 | 5800 | 3647 | 2883 | 3835 | — | 1560 | 947 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | SW 7 | WSW 19 | SW 12 | W 13 | W 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | WSW 18 | W 9 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
77 | 55 | 572 | 152 | 54 | 151 | 261 | 932 | 451 | 294 | 171 | 651 | 39 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 22 | WSW 21 | SW 7 | — | SW 6 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | — | WSW 20 | — | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
123 | 294 | 22 | — | 1 | 102 | 266 | 323 | — | 151 | — | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SW 8 | SW 8 | — | SW 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 |
— | — | 5 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | 49 | 164 | 350 | 464 | — | 5570 | 3446 | 2039 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 44 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 0 |
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.











