
Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with 9,250 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 15s 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 4.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Piha. We’ve got some serious size on the way, but most of it is going to be too much for the average surfer. The swell energy is massive, but the wind isn’t always playing ball.
It starts Sunday the 13th of September. There’s a solid 13ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period. The combined swell energy is pumping at 17102. Water temp is 58°, which is about normal for the time of year. But honestly, 13ft is well over the 8ft mark, so it’s only for experts. The wind is a cross-shore SW at 25 km/h, which is going to make it lumpy. Piha is exposed to the SW, so it’s getting the full force.
Monday the 14th is still huge. The morning has 12ft SW groundswell (16 sec, energy 5268), but the report says marginal surf with questionable tide. Wind is still cross-shore at 20 km/h. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-offshore breeze and 10ft SW swell, but it’s still a lot of water.
Now, here’s the best of the run. Tuesday the 15th of September morning is the standout. You’ve got 8ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW at 15 km/h. That’s clean. The combined energy is 2356, which is strong but manageable. This is excellent for experienced surfers. It’s over 5ft, so beginners should give it a miss, but for anyone with some experience, this is the session to target. Crowds can be a factor here sometimes, but for these conditions, it’s worth it.
From Wednesday the 16th, things drop off. The swell goes to 5ft on Wednesday morning, but the wind swings onshore from the W, making it messy. The energy is down to 882, so it’s only moderate. The rest of the week into the weekend is mostly poor. Thursday and Friday see onshore winds and rain.
Then Friday the 18th morning we get another massive pulse: 15ft W groundswell with a 14-second period and energy at 6630. The wind is light onshore from the NW, but the swell is far too big. Expert only.
Saturday the 19th is a write-off. 13ft to 15ft, but with strong cross-onshore winds, it’s going to be lumpy.
We get another huge pulse on Sunday the 20th. 15ft SW swell, 13-second period in the morning, and 15ft WSW in the afternoon with a 15-second period. The energy is 9073 and 16481. But again, too big for most. The wind is cross-shore.
Monday the 21st drops to 10ft, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s choppy.
Tuesday the 22nd of September is another expert standout. The morning has 18ft WSW swell with a 12-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the S at 25 km/h. That’s massive. The energy is 9505. The afternoon is similar but with a gentle cross-shore wind.
The rest of the run into the last week of September is more of the same: big swell, often too big, with a mix of winds. A few days drop to 6ft or 6ft, but the wind is not favorable.
If I had to pick one session, it’s Tuesday the 15th of September morning. The 8ft SW swell, 14-second groundswell, and light cross-offshore wind is the best you’re going to get. Everything else is either too big or too windy. The long period (over 15 seconds) swells on the 13th, 14th, 20th, and 24th will be powerful, but at a beach break like Piha, they can break a bit straight. Better for the experienced crew.
Keep an eye on Tuesday the 15th morning. That’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | W 13 | W 14 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
9246 | 6731 | 5268 | 4530 | 3192 | 2356 | 2155 | 1470 | 867 | 572 | 799 | 789 | 1435 | 5950 | 6630 | 7147 | 4986 | 6885 | 3465 | 8175 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:54PM2.95m | 11:15AM2.86m | 11:30PM2.82m | 11:51AM2.75m | 00:06AM2.65m | 12:29PM2.59m | 00:44AM2.45m | 1:09PM2.42m | 1:26AM2.26m | 1:57PM2.24m | 2:19AM2.08m | 2:59PM2.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:10AM0.03m | 5:27PM0.15m | 5:46AM0.16m | 6:05PM0.31m | 6:22AM0.33m | 6:44PM0.50m | 7:01AM0.53m | 7:27PM0.69m | 7:46AM0.71m | 8:19PM0.87m | 8:42AM0.87m | 9:27PM0.99m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | W 13 | W 14 | W 15 | WSW 15 | — | — | — |
9246 | 6731 | 5268 | 4530 | 3192 | 2356 | 2155 | 1470 | 867 | 572 | 799 | 789 | 1435 | 5950 | 6630 | 7147 | 4986 | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 20 | SW 6 | SW 18 | WSW 17 | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 30 | 13 | 113 | — | — | — | — | 77 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 6 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | WSW 15 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 |
7856 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 108 | 365 | — | — | — | — | 6885 | 3465 | 8175 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 138 | 228 | 153 | 138 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 231 | 243 | 312 | 8 | 284 | 281 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 85 | 169 | 337 |
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.










