Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming down the line for Piha.

This is a classic West Coast setup, and the forecast is looking like a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid period of good, clean, powerful swell on the way, but it's not for the faint-hearted. The first few days are a write-off, but hang tight, because from Saturday the 1st of August, things come alive.

The standout window is Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August. Saturday morning, the swell is pumping at 13ft from the WSW. The wind is a light E breeze, coming cross-offshore, which is a dream scenario for this exposed break. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no major surprises there. This is a proper, powerful groundswell with a period of 13 seconds, and the combined energy is a whopping 4937 – that’s some serious grunt in the water. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is your window. The sets will be clean, lined up, and packing a punch. Sunday morning is still a ripper, with 8ft SW swell, lighter SSE winds, and a combined energy of 1471. It’s still a bit heavy for the learners, but it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun. Crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, so get in early.

Mid-week, from Monday 3rd to Wednesday 5th, the swell stays solid but the wind gets a bit tricky. Monday sees a 19-second period swell, but with a cross-wind, it’s going to be a bit messy. Tuesday morning fires up a massive 10ft SW swell with 16 seconds of period and a combined energy of 6735, but a SW cross-wind will make it lumpy. That’s a lot of water moving around, and it’s going to be a battle. The pick of this mid-week period is Wednesday 5th, with clean 7ft WSW swell and a light S offshore breeze. That’s a solid day.

We get a bit of a breather on Thursday 6th. The morning is mellow with 4ft waves, but the afternoon goes glassy as the wind dies completely, and the swell jumps to 8ft from the WNW. The period drops to 9 seconds, so it’s more of a windswell, but the glassy conditions will be a treat for anyone looking for a clean, less-powerful session.

The second week gets a bit more uncertain. Friday 7th and Saturday 8th are messy with onshore winds. Sunday 9th is a sleeper with small, clean 3ft waves and a long 15-second period – good for a longboard if you’re keen. From Monday 10th onward, the wind cranks from the east, making it clean but blowing hard (30-35 km/h). The swell is small and inconsistent through the middle of the week. The highlight of the late period is a massive, very long-period swell arriving on Friday 14 August and Saturday 15 August. We’re talking 24-second and 20-second periods from the WSW with combined energies over 1900. That’s a proper groundswell, but it’s coming with heavy rain and strong cross-offshore winds. It’s a promising look for the point, but it’s a long way out, so don’t book the ferry just yet.

Rusty, signing off.

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