Waihee Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, straight up, this is a tough stretch. The waves are there, but the wind is just not playing ball for most of it. We’ve got some solid swell pulses, but the trade winds are gonna be howling, keeping things messy. We’re at Waihee, a reef and point set-up that loves a solid groundswell, and the water’s sitting at a warm 80°, which is pretty much average for this time of year. Nothing weird there.

We kick off late July, and the first real surf hits Monday afternoon, the 27th. We’re looking at a 6ft east swell, with a 14-second period. That’s got some proper energy behind it (1306). But the wind is blowing onshore from the NE at 12 mph, which is gonna put a bit of a bump on it. It’s ridable but not the cleanest. The good news is that this swell builds overnight.

Tuesday, the 28th, is your best bet. The swell jumps up to 8ft from the east-northeast, with a 13-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 2145. That’s a strong, powerful swell. The wind is still onshore but lighter, 9 mph from the NNE. This is the standout. For an intermediate surfer, this is solid. The bigger size might be a bit much for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of experience, the point at Waihee should be handling this swell nicely. The crowd factor is "sometimes" so you’ll likely have some company, but it’s not a circus. The offshore wind direction we want is NNE, and that’s exactly what we’re getting for the swell, so it’s hitting the break right.

After Tuesday, it’s a long, frustrating grind. From Wednesday the 29th through to the second week of August, the trade winds lock in. It’s a relentless cross-onshore flow from the ENE, ranging from 9 to 19 mph. The swell drops off a bit, with periods shortening to 8 or 9 seconds, and the combined energy drops to the 200-800 range. The conditions are just poor, with a lot of chop and lump. The swell heights bobble between 4ft and 7ft, but the wind is ruining it. This setup is looking more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, to be honest.

The second week is a write-off, all the way through to the 11th of August. The same story: persistent ENE winds, short period swell, and choppy conditions. There’s a brief moment around the 4th of August where the swell period stretches to 11 seconds, but the wind is still a problem, so it’s not a goer.

So, to wrap it up: your one and only window to get the good stuff is Tuesday, the 28th of July. Tuesday morning looks cleanest with the lighter breeze. After that, keep the board in the bag.

Rusty.

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