Tainohama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's hash this out. There's a dead flat start at the beginning, nothing worth a paddle on the 1st of August. The real action starts stirring on Sunday the 2nd.

Water temp's sitting around 84°, a touch warmer than average for this time of year, so no need for anything heavy.

Sunday morning you're looking at a clean little pulse, about 2ft from the ESE with a super long 18-second period. That's proper groundswell. Wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE, so the surface should be smooth. Combined energy is only 335, so not a lot of punch, but a decent way to start the day. By afternoon it bumps to about 4ft, still cross-off, and energy jumps to 682. Still just marginal, but the clean surface makes it worth a look.

Now Monday the 3rd, that's where we start getting some grunt. Monday morning: 5ft from the ESE, 16-second period, and a light cross-offshore wind from the NE. Clean, lined-up waves. Energy is 1272, which is a solid, moderate push. This is the first real standout for experienced surfers. Beginners might find that 5ft a handful. Good thing is Tainohama is a reef setup, so that long-period swell will wrap in sweet and not just close out.

Monday afternoon gets messy – still around 5ft but wind swings cross-on and there's a risk of thunderstorms. Could get sloppy quick.

Tuesday the 4th, it's a big ramp. Morning has 10ft from the ESE, but straight onshore wind from the SSE, and energy is 5327. That's strong wave energy. Clean it is not. That's expert-only territory, if even that. By afternoon it's 10ft, still onshore, and energy is 6831 – looks way more suited for kite surfing than paddling.

Now, dial in on Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th. These are the best of the whole run. Wednesday morning: 15ft from the SE, 17-second period, and a light cross-shore wind from the ENE. The energy is massive at 11588. That is powerful, deep-water groundswell. Wednesday afternoon hits 16ft and even cleaner. This is world-class size for skilled surfers at Tainohama.

Thursday the 6th is the peak. Morning shows a 20ft SE swell, cross-off wind from the ENE, and a staggering 20962 combined energy. The report flat out says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That's only for the absolute best, most experienced chargers. Thursday afternoon is similar at 20ft but with a moderate cross-onshore making it choppy.

After that, the swell drops steadily through the second week. Friday the 7th still has big 18ft to 16ft surf, but wind issues and thunderstorms make it a gamble. By Saturday the 8th it's 13ft and weakening. From Sunday the 9th onward it's fading fast – down to around 8ft, then 5ft, then below 3ft by the 12th and 13th, with persistent cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions. There's a long stretch of several days there where it's just not worth getting wet, all the way through the 15th.

A little flicker on the 16th of August with a 4ft pulse from the ESE, but only a 9-second period and unknown wind quality. Don't get too excited about that one.

So if you're asking me, the absolute best on offer is Wednesday the 5th through Thursday the 6th. Massive, long-period groundswell, clean morning windows, and the reef at Tainohama should handle it beautifully. That is a solid, heavy, expert-only session. For the rest of us, the Monday the 3rd morning window looks like a much more manageable and clean option. Keep an eye on the wind, because once that cross-onshore kicks in, the quality drops fast.

Rusty.

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