Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with 5,302 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Piha-The Bar in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, and I’ve got the full rundown for Piha, looking at the next couple of weeks. It’s a mixed bag, but there are some absolute magic windows if you’re willing to wait.
First up, the ocean temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The forecast starts with a bit of a struggle. The 18th and 19th offer some solid southwest swell, 7ft to 7ft, but a stiff southerly breeze keeps things messy. It’s rideable, but you’ll be working for it. Then, things click into place on Thursday the 20th. That morning is a standout. We’re looking at a clean 8ft southwest groundswell with a 14-second period, and the wind is glassy from the SSE. This is serious long-period energy, perfect for a bar like Piha. The combined wave energy is a meaty 2,155, so there’s plenty of push. This is expert territory, though – the power is real. The afternoon holds clean with a 7ft WSW swell, but it’s a bit smaller.
Friday the 21st sees the swell drop and onshore winds creep in, so it’s a step down. Saturday the 22nd is a write-off with onshore wind and rain. Sunday the 23rd is a mess – a short-period, lumpy 8ft to 10ft swell with strong onshore winds. Not worth it.
Now, here’s the next big moment. Monday the 24th. Early morning is glassy again, with a 8ft WSW groundswell and a massive 16-second period. The combined energy is a staggering 4,026. That’s a proper, powerful groundswell. It’s going to be beautiful but very, very strong. By the afternoon, the swell jumps to 12ft, still with that 16-second period, and the energy rockets to 6,609. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s going to be a clean, heavy, expert-only session. This is the best on offer in the whole forecast.
Tuesday the 25th is still big, but the wind turns onshore, making it a bit of a battle. Wednesday the 26th holds decent size but the onshore flow continues. Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th are smaller and crumbly, though Friday afternoon sees a glassy window with a 5ft swell that could be a fun, smaller option.
The 29th is a washout with rain, but then we get another monster pulse. Sunday the 30th sees a 13ft west swell, 10-second period, with a light offshore easterly. The energy is 4,314 – huge. Monday the 31st is the biggest day of the lot, with a 23ft WSW groundswell at a 16-second period. The energy is 23,451. That is colossal. The wind is offshore, so it’s clean, but this is strictly for the elite. It’s predicted to be too big for even the experienced surfers here. The first few days of September see it drop back to a solid, clean 12ft to 8ft range, which is still excellent but far more manageable.
So, to sum it up, the absolute standouts are the morning of Thursday the 20th and the morning of Monday the 24th. That Monday window, with the 16-second period and glassy conditions, is the dream. The end of the month is for tow-in crew only.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Wed morning, calm by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun morning, light winds from the W by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WNW 7 | W 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
2239 | 1001 | 1434 | 3237 | 2155 | 1598 | 1144 | 961 | 743 | 834 | 456 | 323 | 360 | 897 | 761 | 1221 | 1608 | 5302 | 4347 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:24AM2.50m | 1:51PM2.40m | 2:08AM2.30m | 2:41PM2.23m | 3:02AM2.12m | 3:45PM2.11m | 4:12AM2.00m | 5:03PM2.07m | 5:34AM1.99m | 6:19PM2.13m | 6:44AM2.08m | 7:17PM2.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:45AM0.49m | 8:08PM0.67m | 8:31AM0.67m | 9:01PM0.85m | 9:28AM0.83m | 10:08PM0.97m | 10:37AM0.91m | 11:24PM0.99m | 11:51AM0.89m | 00:34AM0.91m | 12:54PM0.78m | 1:30AM0.77m | |||||||
— | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 6 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 |
2239 | 1001 | 1434 | 3237 | 2155 | 1598 | 1144 | 961 | 743 | 834 | 456 | 323 | 151 | 146 | 761 | 1221 | 1080 | 5302 | 4347 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | WSW 6 | W 24 | WSW 19 | WSW 16 | NW 7 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | — | — |
— | 447 | 726 | — | — | — | — | — | 271 | — | 48 | 11 | 142 | 104 | 91 | 541 | 1608 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 17 | WSW 15 | — | — | — |
— | 327 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 432 | 167 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | NW 4 | W 6 | WNW 7 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 380 | 277 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 10 | 122 | 360 | 897 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 153 | 101 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 85 | 119 | 85 | 127 | 340 | 340 | 339 | 125 | 231 | 228 | 231 | 153 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











