Surf Forecasts:
Red Island surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, S swell with 2,234 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Red Island in the next 16 days are 2.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’ve got coming down the pike for the next couple of weeks.
The short term looks like a bit of a frustrating slog. Tuesday and Wednesday are looking choppy and messy with cross-onshore winds, and even though there’s some size at around 7ft, it’s just not going to be any fun. You’ll be fighting it more than riding it. The water’s sitting at 54°F, which is a bit cool for this time of year, so don't forget the booties.
The first chance of a clean wave is Thursday morning the 10th. It’s small, only about 3ft, but the wind will be light offshore, leaving the surface clean. It’s a knee-high day if you’re desperate, but nothing to change your schedule for.
We’re going to have to be patient until Sunday the 13th. That’s when a proper south groundswell shows up. We’re looking at 6ft of swell with a long 16-second period. The wind will be light cross-offshore, so it should be clean. The energy is strong, reading 1639. This will be too big for the beginners, but for the experienced guys, this is worth a paddle out. Red Island is a beach and reef set-up, and a long-period swell like this can connect a bit too straight on the sand, but the reef will be firing.
The middle of next week will ease off with some smaller and cleaner waves, but nothing that will get your heart racing.
Now, for the real gold. Looking a week and a half out, the weekend after next is where the magic is. Saturday the 19th is looking like the standout. We’ve got 6ft of south swell with a 12-second period, light cross-offshore winds, and a strong energy reading of 1473. The call is for excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers. This is the one to get excited about. It's a long way off, so we need to keep an eye on it, but the pieces are falling into place.
After that, we roll into the next week with some smaller but still surfable waves. It won't be as epic as that Saturday, but there will be waves. So keep that 19th marked on the calendar, and I’ll catch you all in the water.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the S by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 18 | S 13 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 7 | S 9 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 638 | 615 | 422 | 270 | 237 | 179 | 91 | 57 | 21 | 246 | 85 | 60 | 85 | 177 | 2206 | 1626 | 1132 | 757 | 310 | 537 | 594 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:35PM1.57m | 3:02AM1.45m | 3:33PM1.58m | 4:01AM1.46m | 4:30PM1.58m | 4:57AM1.48m | 5:24PM1.58m | 5:51AM1.49m | 6:17PM1.57m | 6:44AM1.50m | 7:08PM1.54m | 7:34AM1.50m | 7:57PM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:55PM0.13m | 9:14AM0.10m | 9:53PM0.11m | 10:12AM0.09m | 10:50PM0.09m | 11:09AM0.08m | 11:45PM0.08m | 12:05PM0.08m | 00:37AM0.07m | 12:58PM0.09m | 1:27AM0.09m | 1:50PM0.11m | 2:15AM0.11m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | S 7 | ESE 6 | S 13 | SSE 5 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 9 | S 12 |
| kJ | 638 | 615 | 422 | 270 | 237 | 179 | 91 | 57 | 21 | 61 | 85 | 20 | 85 | 26 | 2206 | 1626 | 1132 | 757 | 212 | 381 | 594 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | NE 4 | SSW 19 | ESE 6 | S 7 | ESE 7 | S 16 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | S 12 | E 9 |
| kJ | 31 | 31 | 39 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 72 | 43 | 32 | 9 | 177 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 151 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 14 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | ENE 9 | NE 4 | ENE 8 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 9 | NE 13 |
| kJ | 21 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 7 | 65 | 60 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | SW 2 | S 7 | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 | S 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 246 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 310 | 537 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 150 | 3 | 59 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 59 | 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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