Teahupo’o Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, giving you the straight-up for Tahiti in feet and miles per hour.

We’ve got a massive groundswell hitting, but the wind is gonna be a fight for the first few days. The main event is Teahupo’o, a heavy, advanced reef break that’s very consistent and exposed to the swell. It’s a world-class wave, but it’s not playing nice.

The water temp is about average for the season, nothing wild.

Starting Saturday, August 29th, we’ve got a solid 10ft to 11.5ft SSW swell. The period is a very long 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, full of energy. The combined energy is huge (5581 and 6603), meaning strong to very strong. But the wind is a strong 25 mph cross-shore from the ESE, and the surf is poor, with messy cross-chop. This is a no-go for anyone but the absolute best, and even then, it’s a mess. Might be better for kite surfing than paddling.

By Sunday, August 30th, the swell drops to 10ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon, still from the SSW with a 15-second period. The wind drops to 22 mph, shifting to a cross-offshore from the east. The conditions are clean. This is the first surfable window, but a 10ft wave at Teahupo’o on a 15-second period is still a very heavy, expert-only situation. The energy is still huge (4119 and 3405).

Monday, September 1st, the swell eases to 6.5ft and 6ft, with a 14-second period. The wind is now a moderate 15-18 mph cross-offshore from the east. The conditions are clean. This is still serious, expert-level surf, but the energy is coming down (1945 and 1519). It’s more manageable.

Tuesday, September 2nd, the swell drops below 4.5ft, with 4.3ft in the morning and 3.5ft in the afternoon. The wind is a light 12 mph cross-offshore. The conditions are clean. The energy is moderate (869 and 723). This is the best of the early run for anyone who isn’t a pro. The wave is still powerful, but not the freight train of the weekend.

From Wednesday, September 3rd, things get messy. The swell direction changes, the period drops, and the wind goes back to cross-shore. The energy drops, and the surf is marginal to poor. Thursday and Friday see a pulse again, with 8ft to 8.5ft SSW swell on the 4th and 5th, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, creating lumpy, cross-chop. The energy is strong (up to 4257), but the wind kills the quality.

Saturday, September 6th, is a bit of a redemption. A 7ft swell from the ESE with a short 8-second period hits, but the wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-offshore from the ENE. The conditions are clean. The energy is moderate (1041). This is a smaller, cleaner wave, but the short period means it won’t have the same barrel potential. It’s a fun, less intense day.

Sunday, September 7th, the morning offers a 5ft ESE swell with a 5-second period and a slight air, creating a light cross-shore. The energy is low (774). This is small and weak, but clean. The afternoon sees a 2.5ft, 18-second SSW groundswell, but the wind is a gentle cross-onshore, making it choppy.

From Monday, September 8th, through to Sunday, September 13th, the outlook is poor. The winds are consistently onshore or cross-onshore, the swell is small and weak, and the surf conditions are poor. The energy values are all below 1000, often in the 400-600 range. There’s a risk of thunderstorms on the 8th. This is a stretch where you’re better off watching the channel.

The Standout: The true standout is the Saturday, September 6th, morning session. While it’s not the biggest swell, the clean conditions, gentle cross-offshore wind, and manageable 7ft of swell from the ESE make it the most user-friendly good wave on offer. The short period keeps it from being too heavy.

The Honorable Mention: For the absolute experts only, the Sunday, August 30th, morning is the most powerful clean wave, but it’s a serious, heavy commitment. The 10ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period is a real beast, and the cross-offshore wind will make it clean but dangerous.

Bottom line: First week is a mix of huge, wind-affected swells and cleaner, smaller windows. The second week is a bust. If you’re in Tahiti, you’re looking at the 30th for the big guns, or the 6th for a cleaner, more fun

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