Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Piha. This is a solid stretch of time, but there’s a rough patch we gotta get through first.

A lot of this sixteen-day window is dominated by a big, powerful WSW swell train, but the wind is gonna be a real problem for most of the first week. The water temp is sitting at 58°F, which is just about average for this time of year, so no shock to the system there.

The first real chance to paddle out starts Thursday, 23 July. Thursday morning is the standout of the first week. The swell is a clean 5ft from the SW, period is a juicy 14 seconds, and the wind is glassy. There’s a solid 1037 combined energy (moderate) and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a wave with some power, but it’s not too big. Because it’s a long period groundswell, that SSW wind is gonna be working perfectly for that exposed bar, making for some nice, clean lines. Crowds can be a thing at Piha though, so get in early.

After that, it gets messy. Friday (24 July) and Saturday (25 July) are write-offs. The wind shifts and builds, and on Saturday, the swell pumps up to a massive 18ft – 20ft with a combined energy reading over 13000 (very strong). That is way too big and chaotic for paddle surfing. It’s more of a kite-surfing kind of setup if you’re into that.

Sunday the 26th is still huge, over 13ft, but the afternoon session cleans up with a crisp S wind. It’s still a big, heavy wave, so only for experts with a lot of bottle. The rest of that week into the 30th and 31st is a mixed bag of big, lumpy swell and wind.

Now, hold on to your board, because the end of the run looks promising. Monday, 3rd August, is a real beauty. The morning is a clean 5ft from the SW, but with a super long 18 second period. The wind is light and clean. The combined energy is still a punchy 2145 (moderate). The afternoon is even better, with 8ft of groundswell, a 16 second period, and a light SW wind. That’s a classic Piha winter day – long, powerful lines. The forecast confidence is high for this one.

Tuesday the 4th is also a gem. The morning is glassy, with a 6ft groundswell. It’s going to be clean and inviting. Wednesday the 5th has a glassy afternoon session with 5ft of long-period swell, perfect for a late arvo paddle.

So, the best on offer is a tie between Thursday morning, 23 July, for the early clean session, and the Monday afternoon, 3rd August, for the bigger, longer-period groundswell with perfect wind. The Monday session is the true standout if you can wait for it.

Rusty.

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