Piha-The Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° S 174.47° E

Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Piha-The Bar sea temperature is
14.6° C
0.2° 

Piha-The Bar surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with 14,264 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Piha-The Bar in the next 16 days are 5.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Mon 20th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 15s
Best Surf 6AM (Mon 20th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 15s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sun 26th Jul)18ft (5.5m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s comin’ down the pipe for Piha. This is a classic West Coast setup, exposed and raw, so when it’s on, it’s on, but when it’s off, it’s a washing machine. We’ve got a proper 16-day window ahead, and it’s a tale of two very different halves.

First up, we have a window of opportunity on Monday, July 20th, and Tuesday, July 21st. That’s the sweet spot. On Monday morning, the wind goes glassy out of the WNW at just 3 mph, and we’ve got a solid 8 ft swell from the WSW. That’s a long-period groundswell at 14 seconds, so those waves are gonna have real push and shape. The combined swell energy is pumping at 2346 (moderate to strong). This is proper Piha, but that size (over 5 ft) means it’s for the experienced crew only. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Monday afternoon holds similar with 7 ft and glassy conditions again. Tuesday keeps it clean with offshore ESE winds in the morning, dropping the swell to 6 ft, and the energy is still decent at 1161. This is the best run of the whole forecast. The waves will be clean, well-shaped, and with that long period, you’ll get those nice lulls between sets to paddle out. Just keep an eye on the crowds, because Piha can get busy when it’s clean.

Then Wednesday the 22nd, the swell drops right off to 4 ft with a messy cross-shore wind, and the energy drops to 555 – it’s gonna be weak and junky. Thursday the 23rd morning looks glassy with a 5 ft swell, but it’s a short-lived window. The real problem kicks in from Friday the 24th onward. A huge storm swell is on the way, and it brings nasty wind.

From Friday the 24th right through the weekend and into the next week, it’s a write-off. The swell gets massive, hitting 12 ft, then 18 ft, and even 16 ft on the 27th. The combined energy readings go through the roof – 14264 (very strong) on the 26th of July – but the wind is howling from the WSW at 28 mph, creating a messy, lumpy, and dangerous cross-shore mess. The wave comment doesn’t hold back, calling it poor surf conditions. At that size with that wind, it’s more of a survival mission than a surf session. This looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The second week, from the 28th of July through the 3rd of August, is a mixed bag of leftover swell (12 ft to 18 ft) but the wind continues to be a problem. The mornings on the 28th and 29th might have a little bit of form, but it’s cross-shore and lumpy. The energy is high (3622 on the 28th morning), but the quality is just not there. On the 2nd of August, the forecast even says the swell is predicted to be too big for the break. There’s nothing in this second week that’s worth paddling out for.

So, the bottom line: your best bet is Monday, July 20th, and Tuesday, July 21st. Get it while it’s clean. After that, it’s a long, angry gap until the chaos settles down, but that’s just Piha in winter sometimes.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, strong winds from the WSW by Fri night).

Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
7
3
2
4
4
3
4
4
3
1
1
2
3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
17
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
15
2.4
WSW
14
2.2
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
14
1.8
SW
14
1.7
SW
13
1.6
SW
13
1.3
SW
12
1.1
SW
12
0.9
SW
12
1.4
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
1.9
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
12
1.8
WSW
8
2.4
WSW
8
3.5
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
13
4.5
WSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5522
4342
2962
2346
1906
1310
1161
1011
828
486
330
209
668
1288
1170
384
403
688
4156
4623
9329
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
15
SW
10
WSW
5
WNW
5
NE
15
E
10
ESE
15
SSW
10
SSW
20
SW
20
SW
15
SSW
0
E
10
WNW
20
NW
20
NNW
30
WSW
40
WSW
30
W
40
WNW
45
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
High Tide
1:02PM2.64m
1:22AM2.73m
1:49PM2.50m
2:08AM2.54m
2:39PM2.37m
2:57AM2.35m
3:34PM2.25m
3:53AM2.20m
4:36PM2.17m
4:58AM2.11m
5:43PM2.16m
6:05AM2.10m
6:46PM2.21m
Low Tide
7:14PM0.28m
7:45AM0.30m
8:02PM0.46m
8:32AM0.46m
8:53PM0.64m
9:23AM0.61m
9:50PM0.79m
10:19AM0.73m
10:53PM0.88m
11:20AM0.79m
11:59PM0.90m
12:22PM0.78m
1:00AM0.85m
cloud
clear
rain showers
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:30
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
 mm
3
5
6
2
1
1
4
8
4
1
7
Temp °C
13
14
14
12
12
11
12
12
13
14
14
13
13
13
13
12
14
13
14
14
13
Feels °C
9
10
12
11
11
7
10
9
9
10
9
9
12
11
9
7
9
6
7
6
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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