Waihee Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are a tough watch for paddlers around Waihee. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions before a promising, but uncertain, pulse of energy shows up at the very end.

Right now and for the next two weeks, we’re stuck in a rut. The wind is stubbornly hanging on from the east-northeast, and it’s blowing cross-onshore every single session. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is bang on average for this time of year, but you wouldn’t want to be out in it with the breeze making a mess of everything. Combined swell energy is weak, starting at 958 and dropping into the low hundreds – not enough to get excited about, and what little swell there is has a short period of 7 to 9 seconds, meaning weak, close-outy waves. The first real week, from August 16th right through to August 29th, is a total blank. If you’re a beginner, the occasional 5ft to 8ft days (like the 27th and 28th) are actually too big and too messy to learn on, so it’s all a no-go. Honestly, the way the wind is peeling across the water, this spot looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing during this entire stretch.

Once we get past that long gap, things get a little more interesting. On Monday, August 31st, we see a pulse of long-period groundswell arriving from the ENE. The swell height comes up to about 7ft – that’s expert territory – but the real story is the period jumping to 13 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell. Combined energy spikes hard, reading 1450 (moderate-strong energy). Now, the caveat here: for a beach or exposed reef, a long-period swell from the east can be a bit too straight, but for Waihee, which is a reef and point break, this setup can be magic. The swell direction is ENE, but the optimum direction for the break is NNE, so it’s a little off, but that raw energy is there. The problem is the wind is still moderate cross-onshore from the ENE, which will keep it lumpy. It’s a marginal surf forecast, but if you’re an experienced local who knows the sand banks and can handle a bit of chop on a powerful swell, this is the one to keep an eye on. It’s far out, so treat it as promising but less certain.

The standout is the 31st. It’s the only window with any real grunt. The crowds at Waihee can be a problem sometimes, but on a Monday with messy winds, you might get a few less on the peak.

That’s the long and short of it. A whole lot of nothing, then a flicker of hope. Keep the wax warm.

Rusty.

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