Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Tauranga Bay over the next couple of weeks.

Alright, I won’t sugarcoat it – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim if you’re chasing a proper surf. We’ve got a real dry spell on our hands. The first real node of energy doesn’t show up until Thursday the 17th, and even then, it’s a mess. Before that, from now through Wednesday the 16th, there’s just tiny, weak swell. We’re talking about a run of days with practically nothing on offer.

That Thursday morning, the 17th, the wind is howling straight onshore from the north at 16 mph, and the swell jumps to 5 ft but with a shockingly short period of 5 seconds. It’s poor surf, full stop. The combined energy bumps up to 133 (moderate wave energy), but with that wind, it’s just a washed-out, lumpy mess.

Friday the 18th sees the biggest swell of the period – 7 ft from the north with an 8-second period. The energy reading jumps to 513 (strong wave energy), so there’s power. But the wind is a strong cross-onshore from the west-northwest at 25 mph, making it messy and horrible. This is strictly for experts, and even then, it’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a pleasant paddle. The swell stays over 5 ft and tops 8 ft later on Friday, so definitely not for the groms.

Saturday the 19th cleans up a bit. The swell drops to 3 ft from the northeast (8-second period), and we get a cross-offshore wind from the west-southwest at 12-16 mph. It’s *clean*, and the energy is 202 (moderate). This is about the best we’ll see, but the waves are still only 3 ft and pretty weak. It’s surfable, but it’s not going to light your world on fire. If you’re a beginner and just want to get wet, Saturday morning is your window.

After Saturday, it drops right back down. From Sunday the 20th all the way to the end of the period on Monday the 28th of September, it’s back to tiny dribble – 0.3 ft to 2 ft swell with poor conditions. There are a couple of glassy or offshore mornings (like Tuesday the 22nd and Thursday the 24th), but with next to no swell, you’d be better off going for a swim.

So, the long and short of it: nothing is a standout. The only window worth paddling out is Saturday the 19th, for a clean, small wave on a longboard. Don’t get your hopes up for the rest of it. The waves might come back, but right now, the forecast is looking lean.

Rusty.

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