Waimarama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about Waimarama. This is one of those spots that really needs everything to line up, and for the first week or so of the forecast, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The water temperature is sitting at 54°F, which is a touch colder than what we’d normally expect for this time of year, about 2°F cooler than the long-term average, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

The standout is hands down Thursday morning, August 20th. We’ve got a clean 7 ft south swell with a moderate combined energy of 1241, and a gentle offshore breeze from the SW. That’s the kind of setup that’ll give you proper, clean waves with the wind holding the face open. The period is a bit short at 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit more sectiony than a long groundswell, but the conditions will be glassy and the break is fairly exposed to the swell. It’s a good call for beginners and intermediates looking for a fun session.

Wednesday afternoon, August 19th, is a big one but it’s for the experienced crew only. We’re looking at an 12 ft SSW swell with a very strong combined energy of 7447, and a 15-second period. That’s a proper groundswell. The wind is cross-off from the SSW at 30 km/h, so it’ll be clean, but that size is going to be heavy and powerful. This is really only for the experts, and it’s a day where you’ll want to be switched on.

After that, the surf drops off quickly. Thursday afternoon August 20th the wind swings more cross-off and the swell is still 7 ft but the period is short and the score drops off. Friday morning August 21st has a 4 ft south swell with a 12-second period and light WNW winds, but the energy is pretty weak at 697. It’s surfable but not inspiring.

From Saturday August 22nd right through the rest of the month and into the first week of September, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. The swell drops to under 3 ft for most of that time, with short periods and weak combined energy, often under 300. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, and the guidance is consistently calling it poor. There’s a small window on Tuesday afternoon August 25th with a 2 ft clean wave, but it’s tiny and weak.

A few days around September 2nd and 3rd see a pickup in swell again, with 7 ft and 6 ft south swells, but the wind is howling from the south at 30-40 km/h. Even though it’s cross-off, that’s a lot of juice for a beach and reef setup, and the conditions are still marked as poor. The energy is moderate (856 and 669), but the wind and period aren’t lining up for a quality session.

So, the short story: Thursday morning August 20th is your best bet for a clean, fun wave. The Wednesday August 19th option is for the brave few. Everything else is either flat, weak, or blown out. If you’re looking for a consistent run, this isn’t it, but that one morning window is worth setting the alarm for.

Rusty

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