Waimarama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s on the table for Waimarama over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you, the start of this run is pretty quiet. We’ve got a stretch of small, ordinary conditions kicking things off, so don’t get your hopes up for anything exciting just yet.

Come Tuesday morning the 15th, we’re looking at a small 4 ft south swell with a 10-second period. The water’s sitting at 54°, which feels a bit colder than normal for this time of year. It’s clean-ish but the wind is a light cross-onshore, which just kills the quality. There’s very weak combined swell energy (295). Not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday the 16th is more of the same, dropping to 3 ft from the SSE with a short 9-second period. The morning shows a clean cross-offshore breeze, but the energy is weak (139). It’s surfable, but it’s the definition of “ordinary.” Thursday and Friday stay small and messy, with poor cross-shore winds and weak energy. Honestly, you’re not missing a thing.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Friday morning the 18th. We get a solid 3 ft swell from the SE, but the period stretches to 12 seconds – that’s proper groundswell potential. The wind goes clean offshore from the SW, and the energy reads moderate (260). Still not a standout, but for a few hours that morning, it’ll be the cleanest wave we’ve seen.

Then things go flat again until Sunday the 20th. The afternoon brings a sudden jump to 7 ft from the south, but with a short 8-second period and a stiff 19 mph cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is moderate (729), but that short period windswell will be all over the place. Beginners will find it too big at over 5 ft, and even for the crew, it’s not gonna be pretty.

Now, here’s the one you’ve been waiting for. Monday morning the 21st of September is the best on offer across the whole outlook. We’ve got a powerful 7 ft south swell running with a long 12-second period. The combined swell energy is strong (1208), meaning real push. The catch is a light cross-onshore breeze that’ll bump the face a touch, but that’s a price worth paying for that much water moving. It’s over 5 ft, so it’s not a beginner spot that day, but for anyone who’s comfortable in solid surf, this is the session to target. Keep an eye on the tide though – the forecast calls it marginal.

The next standout comes right on its heels. Thursday morning the 24th sees a 8 ft south swell with a 9-second period. That’s expert territory, folks – over 8 ft. The combined energy is very strong (1615) and the wind is a fresh offshore from the SW, so it’ll be clean. This one is only for the highly experienced. If you’re not charging, stay on the sand.

After that, the run fades into a long gap of poor conditions through the end of September. The wind stays strong and onshore, with tiny waves (1 ft to 2 ft), and the energy drops right off into the weak zone. There’s nothing to recommend right through to the 30th.

So to wrap it up: don’t bother with the first week. The session to circle on your calendar is Monday the 21st for that solid south groundswell, and Thursday the 24th for the big, clean, expert-only stuff. Everything else is a wipeout.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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