Surf Forecasts:
Waimarama surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 17s period, S swell with 1,929 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Waimarama this week:
The surf forecast for Waimarama over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Waimarama in the next 16 days are 1.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waimarama over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Waimarama.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there’s a proper pulse lining up for the end of the month worth circling on the calendar. If you can pick your sessions, there are some clean windows, but you’ll need to be patient.
Friday morning (21st August) is where we kick off properly. It’s glassy with a light WNW breeze, pushing 3 mph, and a solid 4ft S swell rolling in with a 12-second period. The water temp feels pretty average for this time of year, nothing wild. The combined energy is at 697 (moderate), and honestly, it’s looking very good. Waimarama is a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to the S swell, and the conditions are clean.
Saturday morning (22nd) drops a touch to 3ft S swell, still with a decent 12-second period. Winds are light WNW at 6 mph, cross-off, so the lines will be clean. Energy dips to 285 (weak to moderate), but it’s a worthwhile paddle if you missed Friday.
Sunday (23rd) is a write-off with strong NNW cross winds up to 16 mph and tiny 2ft swell. Not worth a look.
Monday (24th) sees a jump to 7ft SSW swell, but it’s lumpy with WSW cross-off winds at 12 mph. The energy is up at 1033 (moderate to strong), but the conditions are only marginal. A bit techy.
Tuesday through to Thursday (25th–27th) are mostly poor with small S swell and onshore or cross winds. Not much going on. Friday the 28th gets a short-period NNE windswell, but it’s choppy and poor.
Here’s the standout. Sunday morning the 30th of August is where it gets interesting. You’ve got 3ft S swell, a long 15-second period, and clean offshore winds from the SW at 12 mph. The combined energy is 691 (moderate) and the conditions are described as very good. The offshore wind will groom it nicely. If you’ve got a reef break in mind, that long period will draw out nicely.
The real standout is Monday morning the 31st of August. This is for experienced surfers only. We’re looking at a 10ft S swell, 15-second period, glassy conditions with a 3 mph WNW breeze. The energy jumps to 3306 (very strong). This is big, clean, and powerful. Watch out for the size, especially at a beach-reef setup—it’ll be for experts only.
After that, the first week of September drops back to smaller, more marginal S swell with onshore winds through the middle of the week, though Thursday morning the 3rd of September cleans up with 3ft S swell and glassy conditions again (energy 332, moderate). The following days are small and ordinary.
If you’re looking to surf, your best bets are the Friday the 21st, Sunday the 30th (offshore clean) and the big Monday the 31st for the crew who can handle it. The water’s average temp for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | ESE 13 | SSW 9 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 18 | S 17 | S 15 | S 15 | S 17 | S 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 400 | 923 | 427 | 264 | 199 | 146 | 73 | 34 | 33 | 426 | 1359 | 556 | 218 | 143 | 94 | 102 | 144 | 121 | 294 | 1169 | 1180 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 12:09PM1.38m | 00:30AM1.31m | 12:56PM1.36m | 1:18AM1.28m | 1:44PM1.34m | 2:05AM1.26m | 2:32PM1.34m | 2:52AM1.26m | 3:20PM1.35m | 3:40AM1.26m | 4:07PM1.37m | 4:27AM1.27m | 4:53PM1.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:25PM0.30m | 6:42AM0.30m | 7:12PM0.33m | 7:28AM0.32m | 8:00PM0.35m | 8:14AM0.33m | 8:48PM0.35m | 9:01AM0.32m | 9:36PM0.34m | 9:48AM0.30m | 10:24PM0.32m | 10:35AM0.28m | 11:11PM0.29m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | NE 6 | ESE 13 | SSW 9 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 17 | S 15 | S 15 | S 17 | S 15 |
| kJ | 400 | 923 | 427 | 264 | 199 | 146 | 73 | 15 | 33 | 138 | 1359 | 556 | 218 | 143 | 94 | 27 | 144 | 121 | 294 | 1169 | 1180 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | SW 7 | SSW 18 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 | ESE 13 | S 5 | SE 5 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 249 | 92 | 52 | 21 | 8 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 11 | 62 | 34 | 36 | 17 | 52 | 41 | 102 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 28 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | E 15 | — | E 14 | — | S 19 | ESE 13 | NE 5 | ESE 13 | — | — | S 18 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SW 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | — |
| kJ | 48 | — | 4 | — | 16 | — | 7 | 34 | 5 | 33 | — | — | 25 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 14 | 13 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 3 | NW 2 | NNE 4 | NNE 3 | NNE 5 | W 3 | — | SSW 9 | — | — | NNE 4 | — | NW 2 | — | NNW 10 | — | ESE 4 | — | ENE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 2 | — | 426 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 20 | — | 11 | — | 15 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 61 | 6 | 157 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 111 | 2 | 2 | 61 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Hawkes Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Waimarama Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Waimarama provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Waimarama can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Waimarama surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Waimarama) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Waimarama may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Waimarama is 25 km (16 miles) from the city of Hastings. If you plan a holiday in Hawkes Bay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hastings. Hastings has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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