Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day window for Papa Tangaroa, and honestly, the first few days are a total write-off. Don’t even bother paddling out until things settle.

Saturday the 25th is a total mess. That 15ft SW swell on Saturday morning is coming in with a 22 mph cross-on wind. The combined energy is massive at 7269, but it’s just a lumpy, blown-out wall of whitewater. It stays ugly through Saturday afternoon – 13ft, still cross-on, and choppy. Sunday the 26th is where it finally turns. The morning drops to 10ft from the SW, but the wind goes dead calm – glassy conditions. The combined energy is still pumping at 2562, so this is for experienced surfers only. The water’s 69°, which is about normal for this time of year. Sunday afternoon cleans up with a light offshore from the NNW, 8ft swell, and it’s looking excellent.

Monday the 27th still has decent 7ft to 5ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-off and bumping up to 19 mph, so it’s marginal. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are back to poor surf with cross-on winds and lumpy conditions – not worth your time. Thursday the 30th is marginal, with a slight chance of a clean window in the afternoon as the wind goes cross-off, but the swell is dropping to 3ft.

Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August bring a bit more size – 8ft on Friday morning, clean with cross-off wind, but the combined energy is moderate (1270). The afternoon gets lumpy again. Saturday the 1st has 7ft to 8ft SW swell, but the wind is cross or cross-on, so it’s a bit of a gamble.

Now, the standout in the second week. Sunday the 2nd of August is a gem – 5ft swell, clean with cross-off wind from the NW, and the combined energy is solid at 1400. It’s a marked improvement. Monday the 3rd of August has offshore winds from the NNW, 6ft SW swell in the morning, but the afternoon gets a strong 28 mph offshore with a 3ft, 16-second period groundswell – that’s very long period, making it clean but hard to paddle into, best for a point break or reef setting. Tuesday the 4th of August has a solid 7ft to 8ft SSW swell with a 15 to 16-second period, but the wind is onshore, so it’s messy. The energy is huge (3414), but it’s not clean.

The real highlight is the last weekend. Saturday the 9th of August morning has a 4ft, 18-second period SW groundswell – that’s very long period, and the combined energy is 1665, which is moderate. The wind is cross-off from the NE, so it’s clean. Sunday the 9th of August afternoon pushes 7ft from the SW with a 17-second period, strong energy at 2536, and still clean with cross-off wind. That’s the best on offer – a long-period groundswell wrapping in clean, perfect for a reef like Papa Tangaroa. Expect crowds possible, as it’s a rare, consistently good day.

The rest of the second week has some marginal days, but nothing beats that Sunday the 9th. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, that’s the one to circle.

Rusty.

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