Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s comin' up for Piha.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid pulse of swell on the way, but it’s gonna take a little while to clean up. The first decent window is Wednesday morning, the 5th of August. We’ll see a 10-foot SSW groundswell (14-second period) with a clean cross-off wind from the SSE at 15 mph. The combined energy is pumping at 6432, so there’s plenty of grunt. That’s a powerful, long-period swell, so she’ll be a heavy one. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is just about bang on average for this time of year.

Now, the real standout – and I mean *the* one to circle on your calendar – is Sunday morning, the 16th of August. We’re looking at a 13-foot SW swell, with a very long 18-second period, and cross-off wind from the SSW at 12 mph. The combined energy is a massive 10375. That’s a serious, deep ocean groundswell. It’s clean, it’s powerful, and for experienced surfers, this is the best on offer. This is not a day for beginners – 13 feet is only for the crew who know what they’re doing. The long period will make it suck a lot of water out before each set, so be ready for a real chore out the back, but the waves will be world-class.

Monday the 17th of August is also a beauty. The morning brings a 8-foot WSW groundswell (16 seconds) with a light cross-off breeze from the east at 6 mph. The energy is 3075, still a solid push. Then by Monday afternoon, it goes glassy with a 7-foot swell from the same direction. That’s a dream session if you can get it.

The first week is a bit of a mixed bag. Thursday morning, the 6th, has a smaller 5-foot SW swell with glassy offshore conditions from the SE at 3 mph, but it’s only a 3 out of 10 in the scoring, so it’s a fun little session more than a proper standout. Friday the 7th drops right off, and Saturday the 8th is small and onshore – not worth paddling out for.

The second week starts to build again. The 15th of August has a 10-foot WSW swell rolling in Saturday afternoon, with a 20-second period and moderate cross-shore wind. The energy is 6459. That’s a big one, but it’s a bit lumpy. Then the 16th and 17th, as I said, are the real gems.

After that, the 18th and 19th get messy. By Wednesday the 19th, we’ve got a 28-31 mph WSW cross-shore wind and rain showers. That’s more of a kite day than a surf day, with 8-8 feet of choppy, blown-out swell.

So, to sum it up: the 16th and 17th of August are your best bets. The 16th is the heavy hitter, the 17th is the clean, glassy day. Don’t sleep on the 5th if you’re keen for a paddle, but the real magic is in the second week.

Rusty.

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