Te Awanga Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for us.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag ahead, but there are some real opportunities if you’re patient. The first few days are a bit underwhelming, but the second week holds some serious promise, especially for the experienced crew.

Starting off on Tuesday, August 11th, the swell is small but clean. The morning session at Te Awanga is the pick of the early period. We’re looking at a 4ft SSE swell with a 12-second period, which is a nice, clean groundswell. The water is a bit colder than normal at 53°F, and the wind is a gentle offshore from the WSW. The wave energy is moderate (336). It’s not huge, but it’s a point break that will be handling this swell direction well, and with offshore wind, it’ll be clean. Keep in mind it can get crowded here. The afternoon picks up a touch to 5ft, but the period drops to 8 seconds and the wind goes cross-offshore, staying clean enough for a few more laps.

Wednesday, August 12th is a write-off. The wind swings onshore and the quality drops out. Thursday, August 13th morning is a real tease. The swell drops to 3ft SE, but the wind goes glassy. The energy is weak (206), but for a point break with glassy conditions, if you’ve got a log, you’ll be having fun. The afternoon turns choppy.

From Friday, August 14th through to Saturday, August 15th, it’s pretty grim. Onshore winds and rain make a mess of things. The swell builds to 7ft on Saturday, but with a strong cross-onshore wind, it’ll be a bumpy, choppy mess. Not worth paddling out for.

Sunday, August 16th is a redemption day. The morning session looks excellent. A 7ft ENE swell with a 10-second period, and strong offshore winds from the SW. The energy is pumping (890). It’s a clean, offshore day at the point. The wind is strong in the afternoon, 25 mph, making it clean but hard to paddle into, so get your morning fill.

Now, Monday, August 17th and Tuesday, August 18th are for the big boys only. The swell jumps to 10ft and then 13ft, with massive energy (1522 and 4252). The wind is favorable, but this is simply too big for Te Awanga. This is for experts only. The setup will be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Wednesday, August 19th is one of the true standouts. The morning session is excellent for experienced surfers. A 8ft S swell with a 9-second period, and a light offshore wind from the WSW. The energy is strong (1803). The size is at the upper limit for most, but for the experienced, this is a great window. The afternoon turns into a light cross-onshore, so the morning is the play.

Thursday, August 20th is another massive day. The swell is 10ft with a very long 15-second period from the S. The energy is huge (4431). This is a groundswell, and a point break is the perfect place for it. However, the size is again too big for the break. This is experts only.

We then get a nice run of smaller, cleaner surf from Friday, August 21st through Sunday, August 23rd. Swell heights from 4ft to 5ft, with a 10-second period, and light offshore or cross-offshore winds. The energy is moderate (354 to 487). These are the days for the average surfer to get back out there. The morning sessions on these days are the best bets.

Monday, August 24th is flat. Don’t bother.

Looking further ahead to Tuesday, August 25th, this is a promising long-range standout. The morning shows a 5ft S swell with a solid 12-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy is moderate (803). It’s a longer-period groundswell, which will work well on the point. It’s less certain this far out, but it’s a good one to circle on the calendar.

Wednesday, August 26th looks like it gets messy again with onshore winds and rain.

So, if you’re an average surfer, target the mornings of Thursday, August 13th (for the log), Sunday, August 16th, and the Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd window. For the experienced crew, Wednesday, August 19th morning is the standout. And keep an eye on Tuesday, August 25th.

Rusty.

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