Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 12s period, S swell with 10,438 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rolling Stones this week:
The surf forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 17s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rolling Stones in the next 16 days are 6.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s heading our way.
Straight up, this is a challenging outlook. For the next several days, it’s going to be a battle with the wind. We’re looking at the first proper window for a surf around Friday the 21st of August. Before that, from Saturday the 15th right through to Thursday the 20th, it’s mostly a write-off. Strong onshore winds and messy conditions dominate, with a lot of rain and lumpy surf. Not worth paddling out for.
Now, the real standout is Rolling Stones on Friday the 21st of August. The morning session looks glassy with light offshore wind from the NW at just 3 mph. We’ve got a 5 ft south groundswell with a long 12-second period, and the wave energy is solidly moderate (1013). The surf quality is expected to be very good. Then the afternoon gets even better: clean 5 ft waves from the south with a super-long 16-second period (1342 combined energy). That’s an excellent setup for experienced surfers. The swell direction is a match for the spot’s optimum. This is the one to circle on the calendar, just be aware that crowds are possible here.
Saturday the 22nd of August cleans up nicely too, with a light 4 ft south swell and a glassy morning, and a tiny 3 ft swell in the afternoon under glassy conditions. Fun, small waves for a relaxed session.
After that, the swell fades out. Sunday the 23rd drops to tiny 2 ft – 2 ft waves, and Monday the 24th is flat at 0.7 ft – 1.0 ft. There’s a brief pulse of small, clean but ordinary surf mid-week (25th – 26th), but nothing to get excited about.
The water temperature on Saturday the 15th was 54°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year.
The surf then tries to build again later from the 27th of August, but the onshore winds return, making a mess of things right through to the 30th. It’s a classic case of waiting through a rough first week for one really clean day.
Stay patient, and keep your eyes on that Friday slot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 60mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Sat night, strong winds from the SW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSW 7 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 16 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 803 | 741 | 631 | 341 | 642 | 3728 | 3904 | 2992 | 2076 | 1597 | 3233 | 10438 | 7470 | 5137 | 4574 | 2359 | 699 | 602 | 547 | 1242 | 590 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off | glassy | glassy | off |
High Tide | 7:41PM1.84m | 8:11AM1.75m | 8:31PM1.81m | 9:00AM1.76m | 9:21PM1.76m | 9:46AM1.75m | 10:10PM1.71m | 10:33AM1.72m | 10:59PM1.67m | 11:22AM1.67m | 11:48PM1.62m | 12:14PM1.62m | 00:35AM1.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:24PM0.08m | 2:02AM0.11m | 2:17PM0.13m | 2:51AM0.16m | 3:09PM0.20m | 3:39AM0.22m | 4:01PM0.28m | 4:27AM0.30m | 4:51PM0.34m | 5:15AM0.36m | 5:41PM0.40m | 6:03AM0.41m | 6:30PM0.44m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | |  |  |  |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — |
mm | 2 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | SE 10 | — | ESE 15 | — | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 16 | S 13 |
| kJ | 7 | 741 | 631 | 341 | 281 | 384 | 245 | 61 | 71 | 614 | — | 23 | — | 1597 | 4432 | 2288 | 699 | 602 | 547 | 1242 | 590 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 18 | SSW 18 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | SE 15 | E 10 | SSW 15 | — | E 10 | — | — | — | SE 13 | — | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 21 | 25 | 104 | 147 | 266 | 9 | 200 | 331 | — | 47 | — | — | — | 44 | — | 20 | 20 | 70 | 133 | 100 | 82 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 14 | — | SSW 17 | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 11 | SE 16 | SE 11 | S 16 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 7 | — | 307 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | 10 | 30 | 333 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ESE 8 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | S 13 | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 803 | 154 | — | 225 | 642 | 3728 | 3904 | 2992 | 2076 | 1597 | 3233 | 10438 | 7470 | 5137 | 4574 | 2359 | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 93 | 11 | 93 | 145 | 158 | 162 | 158 | 82 | 93 | 162 | 283 | 91 | 93 | 75 | 47 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rolling Stones Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rolling Stones provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rolling Stones can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rolling Stones 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 (Rolling Stones) 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 Rolling Stones 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.
Rolling Stones is 48 km (30 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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