Surf Forecasts:
Red Island surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SSW swell with 3,204 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Red Island this week:
The surf forecast for Red Island over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Red Island in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, checkin’ in on Red Island. She’s a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed, and pretty inconsistent, so don’t expect her to fire all the time. The water’s at 54°F, which is about two degrees colder than average for this time of year. You’ll want a good wetsuit.
First few days are a bust. Thursday the 27th of August: light rain, wind from the SSE, a 4ft south swell with a long 17-second period, but the conditions are poor. Combined energy sits at 893 – moderate, but not surfable. Friday looks cleaner on the wind, but the swell is dropping, and still poor. Saturday and Sunday are tiny, with only ordinary surf. Monday the 31st of August builds to 7ft south swell, 11-second period, with cross-off westerly wind – clean, but only marginal. Energy hits 1003. Not the day.
Now, the standout. Tuesday the 1st of September morning: 8ft south swell, 12-second period, light westerly breeze, cross-off. The combined energy is 3709, with excellent conditions for experienced surfers. That’s a proper groundswell, long period, powerful. The afternoon gets a bit bigger at 10ft, but the wind turns cross-shore from the NE, so it’s a little less clean. That Tuesday morning is the highlight.
Wednesday 2nd of September is still good: 5ft south swell, offshore glassy conditions in the morning – clean and fun. Then from Thursday 3rd September the swell drops fast. The rest of the first week and into the second week is weak, mostly 1ft to 2ft, with very ordinary surf. The energy readings are in the double digits or low triple digits. The 11th September has a tiny 0.7ft south-southwest swell with an 18-second period, but the energy is just 34 – not enough to ride.
So, one real window: Tuesday 1st September morning. After that, it’s a long flat spell. Red Island is inconsistent, so that’s not out of the ordinary. Forecasts can shift, but right now, that’s the story.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Fri morning, light winds from the WSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the WNW by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 13 | SSW 14 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 861 | 1485 | 842 | 455 | 356 | 279 | 209 | 164 | 116 | 54 | 92 | 63 | 883 | 1558 | 668 | 2174 | 2873 | 1036 | 625 | 535 | 354 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:53PM1.39m | 5:13AM1.30m | 5:38PM1.41m | 5:59AM1.32m | 6:23PM1.43m | 6:45AM1.35m | 7:08PM1.45m | 7:31AM1.39m | 7:53PM1.46m | 8:17AM1.43m | 8:39PM1.47m | 9:05AM1.46m | 9:27PM1.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:35AM0.28m | 11:11PM0.29m | 11:23AM0.25m | 11:58PM0.25m | 12:10PM0.22m | 00:43AM0.22m | 12:57PM0.20m | 1:28AM0.19m | 1:44PM0.18m | 2:13AM0.17m | 2:32PM0.17m | 2:58AM0.16m | 3:22PM0.16m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | ENE 7 | S 13 | NE 8 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 861 | 1485 | 842 | 455 | 356 | 279 | 209 | 164 | 116 | 30 | 92 | 30 | 883 | 1558 | 668 | 1520 | 2873 | 1036 | 625 | 535 | 354 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 15 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | S 10 | NE 6 | SSW 14 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 13 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 21 | 62 | 52 | 46 | 50 | 54 | 20 | 63 | 41 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SSW 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | NE 9 | — | N 5 | — | — | — | — | SSW 18 | SSE 13 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 27 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 33 | 9 | 79 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 61 | 16 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | — | ENE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | W 2 | WSW 5 | — | WSW 3 | WNW 3 | S 12 | — | — | NNE 9 | W 3 | NW 3 |
| kJ | 19 | — | 40 | 69 | 92 | 162 | 112 | 98 | — | — | 1 | 13 | — | 3 | 3 | 2174 | — | — | 32 | 4 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 113 | 111 | 61 | 61 | 57 | 57 | 57 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 56 | 57 | 0 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Hawkes Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Red Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Red Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Red Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Red Island 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 (Red Island) 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 Red Island 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.
Red Island is 27 km (17 miles) from the city of Hastings. If you plan a holiday in Hawkes Bay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hastings. Hastings has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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