Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got the goods for Piha. Let’s get into it.

The swell’s been on the up-and-up, but the first few days are a bit of a mixed bag. Tuesday, the 28th of July, is your first real crack with clean, waist-high waves at 5 ft out of the WSW, a 12-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. The water’s sitting at 58°, which is about average for this time of year, and the combined energy is moderate (866). It’s a solid start, not a standout, but a nice way to ease in.

Wednesday the 29th holds similar, but the wind swings cross-on in the afternoon, making it a bit messy. By Thursday the 30th, the swell jumps to 7 ft with a 14-second period, but the onshore wind from the NW ruins the party—expect choppy, lumpy conditions. The combined energy is strong (1513), but it’s not worth the paddle.

Friday the 31st is a write-off. Fresh cross-onshore winds roaring at 19 mph, with swell up to 10 ft, but it’s lumpy, messy, and the combined energy hits 2695—all power, no style. The swell’s too big for beginners and the wind’s a nightmare.

Saturday the 1st of August is the big one, but it’s a warning, not a win. The swell is a massive 15 ft out of the WSW, with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is off the charts at 15483. The wind is moderate cross-shore, but the size is overwhelming—this is for experts only. The break is exposed and will be handling a ton of water. Beginners, stay home.

Drop down to Sunday the 2nd of August and that’s your first real standout. The swell drops to a more manageable 8 ft out of the SW, with a 12-second period, and a light cross-off breeze from the SSW. The combined energy is still strong (2002), but the conditions are clean and excellent for experienced surfers. The break is fairly consistent, but crowds are sometimes an issue at Piha—so get in early. This is the best on offer in the first week.

Monday the 3rd of August is a gem for the patient surfer. The swell is 5 ft out of the SW, but the period is a very long 20 seconds—that’s groundswell with real push. The wind is glassy, dead offshore from the SE at 3 mph, and the combined energy is strong (2018). This is a classic scenario: long-period SW swell tends to break clean and straight at a beach break, but it’s best on the points and reefs. Piha is a beach, so expect long, clean lines but with longer lulls between sets. The morning is the pick.

From Tuesday the 4th through to Tuesday the 11th, the conditions are a bit of a rollercoaster. The morning of Wednesday the 5th brings 8 ft clean surf with moderate cross-off wind, but it’s not a standout. Thursday the 6th morning has a short 8-second period, so the waves are weaker and more disorganised. The end of the first week and into the second week is a mix of clean but marginal conditions, with the swell dropping to 3 ft by Monday the 10th.

Wednesday the 12th of August is the second standout, and it’s a promise for the future. The swell is 7 ft out of the WSW, with a 15-second period, a light cross-off breeze from the S at 6 mph, and combined energy of 1763. The morning is clean and excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best of the second week, but it’s a long way out—so keep an eye on it.

In summary, the standout windows are Sunday the 2nd of August and the morning of Monday the 3rd of August, with the early morning of Wednesday the 12th of August as a promising long-range option. The water’s average, the crowds can be there, but the quality is there for the experienced crew.

Rusty.

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