Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at what’s coming down the pipe for Piha. This is a stretch that’s got some serious muscle, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments carefully. The water temp is sitting around 58°F, which is pretty much what we’d expect for this time of year, nothing wild going on there.

We’re starting off with a big blast of energy. Friday the 11th sees a solid 15ft SW groundswell with a long 19 second period. The combined energy is massive at 13885 (moderate to strong), and the wind is a fresh cross-off from the south at 19 mph, which will keep things clean. The setup is all there, but honestly, this is one for the experienced crew only.
That swell size is too much for the average punter. It’s a powerful, grinding beast, and the long period means it’ll be roaring through with big gaps between sets. This is a true expert zone.

Saturday the 12th still has size with a 8ft to 12ft WSW swell, but the energy has dropped a notch. The cross-off wind hangs on, but the quality is a bit more marginal, with some lumpy cross-chop creeping in.

Sunday the 13th ramps back up with another 13ft to 15ft SW swell. The energy is strong again (10131), but the wind swings cross, creating a lumpy, tricky surface. It’s still big, still for experts only, but the chop makes it less appealing.

Monday the 14th to Tuesday the 15th the swell slowly backs off from 12ft down to 8ft, but the cross-shore wind keeps things messy. The energy drops from moderate to lower numbers, and the scores reflect that it’s not the best window.

Wednesday the 16th is a write-off. The swell drops to 4ft to 4ft, the wind turns onshore, and the combined energy is weak (629 to 717). Poor conditions, no point suiting up.

Thursday the 17th shows a bit of a revival. A 12ft WSW swell rolls in with 14 seconds of period, and the wind turns cross-off again at 9 mph. The combined energy is a moderate 4541. The water cleans right up, making this a solid option for experienced surfers after the mid-week lull.

Now, Friday the 18th to Saturday the 19th we get another big pulse. Swell sits at 13ft to 15ft from the WSW and SW, with strong energy values of 7568 to 11180. The wind is fresh cross-off and cross, so conditions are clean but the size is again monstrous. This is expert territory once more.

Sunday the 20th through Monday the 21st is back to poor form. The swell is still 10ft to 12ft, but the onshore wind is strong and the wave state is lumpy and messy. Not good.

Tuesday the 22nd throws up a massive 16ft WSW swell. The combined energy spikes to 17259 (very strong). Even though the wind is moderate, the sheer size makes this one for the absolute elite only.

We get a slight ease on Wednesday the 23rd with 8ft to 12ft WSW swell, but the wind is cross to cross-on and the energy is moderate to low.

Now, the standout window is from Thursday the 24th through Friday the 25th. On Thursday the 24th we’ve got a 18ft to 20ft WSW swell, but here’s the kicker: the wind goes light offshore from the ESE at just 3 mph. Combined energies are 11215 to 11780. Glassy, clean, and huge. This is the kind of day that makes Piha famous, but only for the hardcore. Then on Friday the 25th afternoon, the swell drops to a more manageable 13ft, the wind is a light cross-off from the SSW at 6 mph, and conditions are described as exceptional for experts. The energy is still high at 9436.

Saturday the 26th brings the last of the action with a 7ft to 8ft WSW swell. The wind stays light and cross-off in the morning, making for some clean, fun-sized waves for experienced surfers, though the energy is lower now at 1723 to 2444.

So if you’re an expert, the absolute pick of the 16-day window is Thursday the 24th and the afternoon of Friday the 25th. Those are the days when the big SW groundswell meets glassy to light offshore winds. The long period (13-14 seconds) means the sets will be fat and powerful. For the more experienced surfer looking for a cleaner window without the terrifying size, Thursday the 17th is a solid call with clean, cross-off conditions on a 12ft swell. The crowds at Piha can be an issue, so be prepared to share the peak on these good days.

Signing off, Rusty.

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