
Surf Forecasts:
Pouawa Beach surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, SE swell with 479 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pouawa Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Pouawa Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pouawa Beach in the next 16 days are 1.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.0m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pouawa Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, it’s a pretty bleak run for Pouawa Beach. Don’t get your hopes up just yet. We’re looking at a solid stretch of days with hardly any surf worth paddling out for. From now until about the 15th, it’s mostly a write-off with tiny, weak waves and messy wind. There’s a long gap of poor conditions here.
The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Saturday the 15th. That morning, the forecast is finally showing a bit of life. We’ve got a 6ft swell pushing in from the SSW, and the wind is swinging around to a light offshore from the NW, with a light breeze, so it’ll be clean. The combined energy of all swells directed here is a solid 300, which is strong. The period is only 6 seconds though, which is short-period windswell, so it’s gonna be a bit chunky and less organised than a proper groundswell. That’s expert territory at that size and won’t be as clean as a longer period swell. It’s a short window, and the afternoon turns to poor conditions, so you’d want to be on it first thing.
For the rest of the run, anytime after the 15th, it’s back to poor surf with strong cross-shore winds and messy conditions. Nothing else stands out as a genuine goer.
Water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
So, if you’re desperate, the morning of Saturday the 15th is your best bet, but it’s a short, powerful, and expert-only window. Beyond that, it’s a quiet spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 10°C on Mon night, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Mon night, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 11 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | E 12 | NNE 4 | ENE 12 | NNE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
85 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 57 | 147 | 479 | 156 | 184 | 163 | 89 | 43 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 6 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:25PM1.46m | 9:49AM1.38m | 10:08PM1.46m | 10:35AM1.40m | 10:54PM1.46m | 11:24AM1.43m | 11:44PM1.46m | 12:16PM1.46m | 00:38AM1.46m | 1:13PM1.49m | 1:36AM1.46m | 2:12PM1.52m | 2:36AM1.47m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:48AM0.20m | 4:02PM0.22m | 4:31AM0.18m | 4:49PM0.22m | 5:17AM0.17m | 5:38PM0.22m | 6:05AM0.16m | 6:32PM0.21m | 6:58AM0.15m | 7:28PM0.20m | 7:54AM0.13m | 8:28PM0.19m | |||||||
— | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 6 | 0 | -2 | -4 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | — | — | SE 16 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 13 |
362 | 14 | 6 | 6 | — | — | 41 | 1751 | 872 | 479 | 574 | 1241 | 1729 | 1210 | 841 | 501 | 396 | 385 | 919 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | NE 11 | SE 15 | S 11 | S 10 | S 17 | S 10 | SE 13 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | NNE 6 |
85 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 57 | 297 | 386 | 386 | 441 | 163 | 208 | 198 | 72 | 118 | 160 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | — | — | — | — | — | E 18 | NE 18 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NE 14 | SE 12 | SE 11 | E 12 | NNE 4 | ENE 12 | NE 12 |
30 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 12 | 147 | 67 | 156 | 184 | 8 | 89 | 43 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 2 | S 8 | S 10 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 9 | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | SSW 3 | SW 3 |
1 | 1093 | 2802 | 4796 | 7070 | 5311 | 3035 | 1674 | 1008 | 363 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 6 | — | 3 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 96 | 112 | 116 | 116 | 115 | 42 | 13 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 21 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
Information about the Pouawa Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pouawa Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pouawa Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pouawa Beach 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 (Pouawa Beach) 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 Pouawa Beach 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia? If you are looking for accommodation near Pouawa Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Gisborne and Mahia, consider staying in Gisborne which is 16 km (10 miles) away.











