Tengan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at Tengan, yeah? I’m lookin’ at the next couple of weeks and honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch for surf. Tengan (Big Island) is a reef break that’s inconsistent at the best of times, and this run ain’t doin’ us any favours.

We’ve got a solid gap of days at the start with no real surf to speak of. From Thursday the 20th right through the weekend, it’s all cross-onshore winds, messy conditions, and bumpy seas. Swell heights are hangin’ around 3 ft to 5 ft, but the period’s short – 6 to 8 seconds – so it’s weak, choppy, and pretty much unsurfable. The combined energy is low, mostly under 200 for the first few days, and on the 22nd it drops to zero for the afternoon. That’s a write-off.

By Monday the 24th, we finally see a pulse of energy. The morning swell is only 2 ft, but the period jumps to 18 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy reading hits 718, which is moderate, but unfortunately the wind is onshore and strong, so it’s messy. The afternoon bumps up to 5 ft with the same long period, and the energy rockets to 1611 – that’s strong wave energy. But again, the wind is all wrong, blowing cross-onshore, so you’re paddlin’ into chop. The water’s about 84°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no drama there.

The best chance in the whole window looks like Tuesday the 25th. The morning swell hits 8 ft from the east with a 16-second period – that’s a solid, long-period groundswell, and the combined energy is a massive 2717. That’s very strong. But here’s the thing: Tengan is a reef, and with that much power and a long period, it’s gonna be a heavy, ledgey wave only for the experts. The wind is cross-onshore from the east-northeast, so it’s not clean. The afternoon drops to 6 ft, still a strong 1545 energy, but still cross-onshore. If you’re a real charger and you don’t mind a bit of bump, this could be the biggest wave of the fortnight, but it’s not gonna be pretty.

After that, it fades fast. Wednesday the 26th morning has 4 ft from the east-northeast, 13-second period, and for the first time we get a light cross-offshore wind from the northwest. The energy is 367, moderate, and the conditions are actually clean. The swell direction is east-northeast, which is off the optimum northeast for Tengan, but it’s the cleanest window we get. The afternoon is smaller, 3 ft, and still clean but weak.

Then from Thursday the 27th onward, it’s a slow slide into tiny waves and onshore or cross-onshore winds. Swell drops to 3 ft and under, periods are short, and the energy is below 200 most days. A few pulses show up on the 4th of September – 6 ft from the east-northeast, 9-second period, with a light cross offshore wind – that’s marginal, but it’s over a week away and nothin’ special.

So, bottom line: this is a rough run. Tengan rarely breaks well, and this forecast is a long stretch of poor surf. The standout is Tuesday the 25th for size and power, but it’s a messy, expert-only deal. The cleanest moment is Wednesday the 26th morning, but it’s small. Most of the rest is flat, choppy, or blown out. If you’re desperate, keep an eye on that 26th – otherwise, I’d sit this one out.

Rusty.

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