Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's talk about it. The ocean's got some life in it for the next couple of weeks, that's for sure. It's not going to be small and playful, this is proper west coast stuff. My first port of call is Piha-The Bar (Auckland) . Water's sitting at 57°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year.

The week starts off slow. Wednesday the 12th is tiny, just a 3ft ripple from the WSW, and the energy is weak. The wind is a bit cross-offshore but there's just nothing to surf. You'd be wasting your time.

Thursday the 13th is still marginal. A bit of 3ft swell in the morning, but it's crossed up. The afternoon pushes it to 5ft with a bit more energy, but the wind turns onshore and it gets messy. Not worth the paddle.

Then things switch on for Friday the 14th. The swell jumps to 6ft from the WSW with a long 16-second period. The energy is now moderate and the wind is light and cross-offshore. It's clean, it's powerful, and it's the first day that's really worth your while.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th keep the swell coming. Saturday sees waves pushing from 7ft to 8ft, with the south in the wind keeping it tidy. It's getting more demanding, but there's real power. The energy is strong now. Sunday morning is similar, but the real standout is Sunday afternoon. The swell jumps to a solid 13ft from the SW with that long period, and the energy goes through the roof. The wind goes offshore from the SE, and the conditions are world-class for experts. That's the day. Big, clean, grinding barrels. Don't even think about it unless you're a serious charger.

Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are still firing, but a step down from that peak. Expect waves in the 7ft to 10ft range, with a solid period. Winds stay cross-offshore from the south, so it remains clean, just with a bit less juice.

Wednesday the 19th through Friday the 21st is a solid run. Wednesday afternoon sends an 8ft SW swell with a long period and a clean cross-off wind. Thursday the 20th is glassy in the morning with a 7ft WSW swell, that's when it's at its most user-friendly. Friday the 21st is smaller, around 5ft, but it's glassy again. The power fades as we head into the weekend.

For the second week, the surf eases off. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd have some rideable waves in the 4ft to 5ft range, but the punch just isn't there. It's a lull.

Then the ocean gets angry again. Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th see a big swell arrive, pushing 10ft to 13ft, but the wind turns against us. Strong cross-shore winds and even a near gale will destroy the surface. There's a ton of energy, but the conditions will be poor. Thursday the 27th has a big, clean 8ft swell in the morning with fresh offshore winds, but it's on the backside of the storm. It wouldn't be my first choice.

So, if you're picking your session, make it Sunday the 16th in the afternoon. That's the standout. The Friday before is the safer bet for a good, clean, powerful session without the life-threatening size.

Rusty out.

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