Port Waikato-Sunset beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for Port Waikato-Sunset Beach.

The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a run of small, marginal surf coming up, but the real story is a massive pulse of energy that rolls in late next week and into the start of September. The water temperature is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year.

We start off with a bit of a wait. Friday the 21st has some small SW swell, around 5ft, with a 13-second period, but the wind is a light cross-shore, making it a bit messy. The combined swell energy is 854, which is moderate. The call is marginal at best. Saturday the 22nd is even smaller, with onshore winds, and Sunday the 23rd is a write-off with strong onshore winds and a messy, short-period 8ft swell (1369 energy). Not worth paddling out for.

Monday the 24th is a different story. A big SW groundswell hits, with heights around 13ft to 15ft and a long 14-15 second period. The combined energy is massive, up to 7664. The wind is cross-shore, which is decent, but the problem is the swell size. This is expert territory only. It’s too big for the average punter, so unless you’re a charger, give it a miss. Tuesday the 25th is still oversized at 10ft, and the wind turns cross-onshore, making it choppy and still tricky.

We then get a bit of a lull from Wednesday the 26th through to Sunday the 30th. Swell drops to around 4ft to 7ft, with periods dropping off. The wind is a mix of onshore and cross-onshore, keeping things messy. The best of this average period is Thursday the 27th morning, with a 7ft WSW swell, 13-second period, and a light cross-shore breeze. It’s worth a look for a sup, but it’s only marginal.

Now, looking ahead, Monday the 31st of August has a 6ft SW swell with a long 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 3060. The wind is a light cross-shore, which is decent. This is a promising session, but the long period groundswell might make it a bit walled-off at the beach break. It’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

Then we get into the first week of September, and it’s another big swell event. Tuesday the 1st of September has a 10ft to 12ft SW swell, with a short 9-10 second period, and a clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is strong at 2315. Again, this is big and punchy, only for the experienced. Wednesday the 2nd is even bigger, with 15ft to 16ft and fresh cross-shore winds, making it a rough, expert-only day. Thursday the 3rd is the peak, with a 15ft to 18ft WSW swell, a very long 15-second period, and a massive 13986 energy reading. The wind is moderate cross-shore, but the power is staggering. For the paid crew only.

By Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th, things drop back down, but the winds are onshore or cross-onshore, closing it out.

For the standout, I’d have to say Monday the 31st of August morning is the best option for the average surfer. It’s a solid 6ft with clean, light cross-shore winds and a long-period groundswell that will have some push. The energy is strong (3060), so it’s not weak. Just be aware that the long period might make it a bit fat and walled-up at the beach, so look for a bank that’s handling it. After that, the big September swells are for the hardcore only.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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