Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Tawharanui.

Right off the bat, it’s a tough stretch. From Wednesday the 26th of August all the way through to the 6th of September, the surf is flat or just plain poor. Swell heights are stuck between 0.3 ft and 5 ft, mostly from the north with short, weak periods. The wind is messy—onshore or cross-onshore a lot of the time, and when it does swing offshore, there’s no swell to work with. The combined energy is weak, usually under 100 (9 to 197). It’s a real dry spell.

The first sign of life comes on Sunday the 6th of September afternoon. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the north with a 6-second period, and the wind goes light cross-offshore from the west at 15 km/h. The combined energy hits 100 (moderate), and it’s clean. You’ll find a surfable wave, but nothing to get excited about.

Then Monday the 7th of September is the big one. A serious pulse of north swell rolls in at 12 ft with an 8-second period. The combined energy is massive—1332 in the morning and 1666 in the afternoon. That’s strong to very strong energy. The wind is cross-offshore from the WNW at 25 km/h in the afternoon, keeping it clean. But here’s the deal: this is a beach and reef setup, and 12 ft is way too big for the break. The file says it’s ‘too big for this break,’ so this is for experts only. If you’re a seasoned local and know the reef, this is your day. The water temperature is 57°, which is about 1° cooler than normal—nothing wild, just a typical winter chill.

After that, Tuesday the 8th of September drops off hard with 3 ft and strong offshore winds from the WSW at 40 km/h. The energy is weak (99), and while it’s clean, it’s a tough paddle. The rest of the second week stays small, with waves between 2 ft and 5 ft, mostly from the north-northwest, and periods around 5 to 6 seconds. The wind is offshore or cross-offshore, so conditions are clean, but the swell is just too weak. The energy stays in the weak to moderate range (59 to 199). Nothing else stands out.

So, bottom line: skip the first week and a half. The only day worth a look is Monday the 7th of September for the big swell, but only if you’re an expert who knows the reef. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more