Pohoiki Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a pretty frustrating run for Pohoiki. The first week is mostly a write-off with messy, choppy conditions and cross-onshore winds messing things up. The swell is there at times, but the wind just won’t play ball. There’s a brief window of hope around the 20th and 21st with some longer period S swell, but it’s still a bit cross and the energy is only moderate (696), so it’s more of a grovel than a proper session.

The real standout, and the only time I’d really get excited, is from the 26th of July through to the 29th. Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th see a big jump in size with a solid 7ft to 8ft E swell wrapping in, with a very long period of 15 to 16 seconds. The combined energy is strong, hitting 2830 on the Sunday morning. That’s proper groundswell. However, at 8ft, this is expert territory only – too big for beginners. The wind is a cross-shore for most of it, which keeps it clean enough, but not perfect.

The real gem is the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. The swell drops a touch to 6ft, still from the ENE, but the wind shifts to a light cross-offshore from the north at 9 mph. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions,” and with a combined energy of 887, it’s clean, lined up, and will have some proper shape. That’s the pick of the period for me.

Water temp is sitting at 80°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so you’ll be fine in boardshorts.

After that, the last few days of the run drop off fast with smaller, shorter-period swell and poor quality again. The 1st and 2nd of August look particularly average with strong onshore winds.

So, to sum it up: if you’re an experienced surfer, pencil in that Wednesday the 29th of July morning. It’s the only time the stars really align. The rest of the time, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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