Tainohama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for Tainohama over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with some real windows of opportunity, but also some rough patches to sit through.

The first real action we’ve got is this Thursday afternoon, the 3rd of September. Tainohama’s a reef break that’s exposed to the south, and it’s about to see a pulse of 4ft SSE swell rolling in with a 10-second period. That’s a solid, moderate groundswell, and the energy reading is moderate at 342. What makes this one special is the light NE breeze – it’s a cross-offshore wind, keeping the surface clean. The water is sitting at 85°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable out there. Expect good surf conditions, and with the break being fairly consistent, it’s a solid option for advanced surfers.

Friday the 4th looks a bit grim. The morning sees 5ft S swell with a 10-second period, but a strong NNE wind at 12 mph makes it marginal. By the afternoon, heavier rain and 16 mph winds ruin any chance of quality. Saturday the 5th is a write-off – small, weak ESE swell around 2-3ft, period dropping to 8-9 seconds, and moderate winds making it poor.

Now, Sunday the 6th is a real standout. The morning brings a 5ft ESE swell with a 9-second period, and the energy is moderate at 414. The light NE breeze at 6 mph is a cross-off, so the surface is clean. Expect good surf conditions. But the afternoon is where things get wild – a 12ft E swell, 10-second period, and a massive energy reading of 3276. That’s strong, powerful wave energy. The wind is light cross-shore, but honestly, at this size, this is strictly for experts. Over 8ft, it’s a big water day. The reef setup should handle it well, but be careful.

Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are a mixed story. Monday morning has 5ft ESE swell with a 9-second period, but a 16 mph north wind keeps it marginal. Tuesday afternoon, though, is a gem: 4ft SE swell, 10-second period, and a gentle offshore breeze from the north at 9 mph. That’s clean, lined-up surf, and the energy is moderate at 547. Expect very good surf conditions. Crowds are sometimes an issue at Tainohama, so get in early.

Wednesday the 9th has some offshore wind but it’s blowing 19-22 mph, which makes it fresh and tricky. The 5ft SE swell is there, but the wind is a bit too strong for perfect conditions. Thursday the 10th is a better bet: the morning sees a 8ft SSE swell (period 10 seconds) with a fresh cross-off breeze, and the energy is strong at 1043. The afternoon is the pick – 7ft SSE swell, gentle cross-off from the NNE, and moderate energy at 692. Expect very good surf conditions again.

After that, things turn poor. From Friday the 11th through to the morning of Sunday the 13th, it’s a mix of onshore winds, small swell, and poor conditions. But Sunday morning the 13th is a quiet surprise: 5ft ESE swell, period a short 6 seconds, but the wind is glassy – a light SE breeze at 3 mph. That’s rare, and the energy is moderate at 348. Expect good surf conditions, though the short period means the waves won’t have much travel.

From Sunday afternoon the 13th through to Thursday the 17th, it’s a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. Onshore winds, some risk of thunderstorms, and swell dropping to under 3ft. The energy readings are weak, mostly under 200. This is a gap of several days where you’d be better off doing something else.

Finally, Friday morning the 18th of September brings a bit of hope. A 4ft S swell, 9-second period, with a gentle offshore breeze from the NNW. The energy is moderate at 260, and the conditions are clean. Expect good surf again, but it’s a brief window before the afternoon turns marginal with a stronger cross-off wind.

So, the best on offer is Sunday afternoon the 6th for the big 12ft swell (experts only) and Tuesday afternoon the 8th for clean, fun waves. The second week is thin, but keep an eye on the 18th.

Rusty.

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