The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, so you gotta pick your moments. The swell’s gonna pulse around, but the winds and conditions are the real story here. We’ve got a bit of a rough patch early, then things clean up for a while, and then there’s a big, powerful pulse right at the end that’s worth keeping an eye on.

The early part of the run is pretty rough. The swell is there, but it’s messy. Saturday the 8th is a write-off with that cross-onshore wind chopping things up. Sunday the 9th is even worse, with a serious 10ft SSW swell and howling winds – that’s just a stormy mess, not for paddling. The Heads is a sandbar, so with that kind of size and wind, it’s going to be all over the place. Honestly, that’s more of a kite-surfing day than a surfing one. The start of the new week isn't much better; Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are still dealing with junky conditions and inconsistent energy.

But then, things start to turn. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are where you want to be. The swell drops to a more manageable 5ft to 6ft from the SSW, and the wind goes light and cross-offshore. That’s the kind of wind that will keep The Heads (Manawatū) clean. The combined energy is still moderate, around 2186 to 3546, but the quality is there. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and lined up. The period is long, up to 20 seconds on Wednesday, which means real groundswell energy. That long period can make a sandbar a bit straight, but with the offshore wind, it should still offer some decent walls.

The following weekend softens up a bit. Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th have some nice, clean conditions with the swell dropping off. It’s not a standout, but it’s surfable. The water temp is sitting at 62°F with a slight negative anomaly, so about normal for the time of year. Nothing crazy.

The next real highlight rolls around on Monday the 17th. The wind goes completely glassy in the morning, with a 6ft SW swell. That’s perfect. The energy is moderate at 1355, but the total lack of wind will make it super user-friendly and clean. Tuesday the 18th is a bit choppier, but Wednesday the 19th has another glassy morning with a 5ft SW swell. These are your session windows.

Now, for the one to watch. Friday the 21st, the forecast is showing a big pulse of 13ft from the WSW. That’s a serious amount of water, and the combined energy is massive at 7483. That is a lot of power. The catch is, that size is too big for The Heads. It’s going to be closing out and dangerous. The conditions might be favorable tide and wind-wise, but it's just too much for this break. That’s for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a paddle battle. The day after, Saturday the 22nd, the swell backs down a bit to 8ft, and the wind goes glassy in the afternoon. That could be interesting, but it’s still pushing the limits of what’s considered good here.

So, the standout windows are Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th for that combination of size, clean wind, and good energy. Then Monday the 17th is the other pick for a glassy, user-friendly session. The big pulse on the 21st is for the brave and the stupid, but it’s not what most of us are looking for.

Rusty

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