Teahupo’o Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at a juicy window for Teahupo’o. The setup is building through the week, with a massive pulse of long-period SW groundswell lined up for mid-month. This isn’t for the faint of heart—this is a serious reef break that demands respect, and for most of this run, it’s going to be solid.

Right now, Monday the 14th is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a 5 ft to 6 ft SW swell rolling in with a 17-second period, but the wind is messy—cross-off in the morning, turning cross-on in the afternoon with a risk of thunderstorms. The water’s sitting at a pretty standard 79°, about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Wave energy is already strong (1483), but the conditions aren't there yet. Give it a miss.

The real story kicks off on Tuesday the 15th. Tuesday morning is a standout. The swell bumps up to 7 ft from the SW, with a very long 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy—dead calm, 0 km/h. That’s the kind of clean, raw power that makes Teahupo’o a thing of beauty. The combined energy is pumping at 2534, so you’re looking at proper heavy waves. This is strictly for experienced surfers only; 7 ft on this reef is a serious step up. The afternoon gets a bit sloppy with a light onshore wind, so make the most of that morning window.

Wednesday the 16th keeps the swell size at 8 ft from the SW/SSW, with that long 16-second period. The morning is cross-shore from the ESE at 9 mph, which isn’t perfect but still rideable. The wave energy is very high (3285), and this is still in the expert-only zone. The afternoon is similar, with a slight cross-chop.

Thursday the 17th starts with an 8 ft SSW swell, period dropping to 14 seconds, and a light cross-shore wind. The energy is still massive (2760), but by the afternoon, things fall apart with rain showers and a strong 19 mph cross-on wind. That’s a no-go.

Friday the 18th is blown out. The swell hangs around 8 ft to 8 ft, but a strong cross-on wind and lumpy conditions make it a write-off for paddle surfing. The energy is still high (2041), but with that wind, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddling.

Saturday the 19th sees the swell easing to 7 ft from the SSW, period dropping to 12 seconds. The morning has a nice cross-off wind, keeping things clean. The energy is moderate (1165), and it’s a more manageable size, but still a solid wave. Sunday the 20th drops further to 4 ft to 3 ft, with clean cross-off winds, but the energy is much lower (556). It’s a small, clean day, but nothing special.

We hit a lull for a few days. Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd see the swell picking up again, with clean cross-off winds and building energy. Tuesday the 22nd is a real highlight: 6 ft SW swell in the morning, dropping to 5 ft in the afternoon, with a 13 to 12-second period and clean conditions. The energy is strong (1480), and the wind is light and offshore. This is a great window for experienced surfers.

Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th are smaller and windier, with 4 ft to 5 ft swell and fresh cross-off winds. The energy drops back to moderate (937 to 1227). It’s clean, but not as punchy.

Now, looking further out to the end of the month, there’s a massive pulse forecast for Saturday the 27th of September. The swell jumps to a huge 10 ft from the SW, with a 16-second period. The wave energy is enormous (4637 in the morning, 4910 in the afternoon), but the wind is a fresh cross-off. This is for experts only—anything over 8 ft on this reef is a serious undertaking. The conditions are clean, but it’s going to be a beast.

Sunday the 28th of September drops to 8 ft from the SSW, but the wind turns cross-shore and the energy is still very high (2464). The chop will make it tricky. The following days, Monday the 29th and Tuesday the 30th of September, see the swell dropping and the wind picking up, with lumpy conditions. The window closes with a whimper.

So, if you’re looking for the best of the best, lock in Tuesday the 15th morning for that glassy, heavy, long-period SW groundswell. Tuesday the 22nd is another solid day with clean conditions and strong waves. The big pulse on Saturday the 27th of September is for the brave, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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