Waihee Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this is a pretty bleak run for Waihee. The whole 16-day window is dominated by a persistent cross-onshore wind, mostly from the ENE, which is just not what we want to see. The swell direction is also locked in from the east and northeast, which is the opposite of the optimum direction from the north-northeast that this place really needs to fire. For the first eleven days, the conditions are rated as poor, and it’s not until the very end of the period that we get a glimpse of something a little different, but it’s still compromised.

Starting off, Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are small and messy. Waves around 2ft to 4ft, with a period around 9 to 10 seconds, but that cross-on breeze makes it choppy. The combined energy is moderate, sitting around 172 to 273, but honestly, the quality is just not there. Monday the 14th through to Wednesday the 23rd is much the same story: the swell height builds, getting up to 7ft by Thursday the 17th and even reaching 7ft again on the 22nd and 23rd, with the energy getting strong, hitting 1029 on the 23rd. But it’s all coming from the east or east-northeast, and the wind is cross-on at 12 to 18 mph, making it lumpy and choppy. That 7ft is getting into the territory where it’s only for experts, but with the wind ruining the face, it’s hardly inviting.

There is a brief glimmer on Wednesday the 23rd. The morning session rates a marginal 2 out of 10, with the swell at 7ft from the east, a 10-second period, and the wind drops a little to a gentle breeze at 9 mph. The energy is strong. But it’s still cross-on, and the afternoon brings rain showers and a score of just 1. It’s not a day to get excited about.

After that, from the 24th through to the 27th, it’s back to poor conditions. The swell stays between 4ft and 7ft, the wind is persistent cross-on at 12 to 16 mph, and the energy is very strong, hitting 1195 on the 24th afternoon. Even with a 12-second period from the north-northwest on the 26th, which is a better direction for the break, the wind kills it.

So, the honest truth is there are no standout days in this window. The best on offer is that Wednesday the 23rd morning, and even that is a struggle. For a spot that is fairly consistent, this is a poor run, but with the wind locked in from the wrong direction, it’s just not happening. For kite surfers, the combination of decent swell, poor surf quality, and strong cross-onshore wind might look interesting, but for paddling, it’s a skip.

- Rusty

Read more