Waimea Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for our stretch of coast over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’re not exactly firing. The first little window is a bit of a write-off, with a few days of small, messy energy. The first real glimmer of a decent session doesn’t show up until well into the second week. So, we’ve got a bit of a gap here before the good stuff rolls in.

Waimea Rivermouth is the only spot on the cards, and it’s a funny one. This is a beginner-friendly break that’s fairly consistent, but it’s exposed to the swell and the optimum direction is from the south. The early part of the forecast is a tough watch. Saturday morning the 1st of August has a bit of a lumpy 8 ft swell from the east, but the period is short at 8 seconds, and the wind is a cross-off. The energy is moderate (828), but it's just not clean enough for a good paddle. That afternoon, it drops right off. Sunday the 2nd is a bit better in the morning with a cleaner 7 ft east swell, but still short period. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.

We scrape through the first week with a few mornings offering small, clean waves, like Monday the 3rd with 5 ft from the east and a light breeze, and Tuesday the 4th goes glassy with a 4 ft swell that has a longer period of 11 seconds, giving it a bit more punch (energy 481). It’s okay, but it’s not the main event.

The real standout, and the one I’m getting a bit fired up about, is the spell from the 11th of August onwards. The wind stays light and cross-off, and the swell direction swings around to the south – which is the optimum direction for this break. The 11th of August Tuesday morning is already looking good with a 3 ft south-southwest swell, but the period is a nice 14 seconds, giving it some proper groundswell shape. The energy is strong (584). Then, that Tuesday afternoon the period jumps to a massive 21 seconds, and the energy rockets to 984. That’s a very long period groundswell, and it’s going to produce some beautiful, long lines. This is a river mouth break, so those long-period swells will wrap in nicely and offer some really fun, clean waves, especially for the beginner crowd this spot is known for.

The 12th of August Wednesday afternoon is the absolute pick of the forecast. The swell is 5 ft from the south, with a period of 17 seconds, and the energy is a thumping 1499. The wind is a light cross-off breeze. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, as it’s getting a bit chunky, but it’s a proper standout. The 13th of August Thursday morning is also excellent, with a 4 ft south swell, 16-second period, and strong energy (1102). The water temperature is sitting around 80°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a slow burn with small, short-period waves. Don’t get too excited. The second week, specifically from the 11th of August Tuesday afternoon through to the 14th of August, is where the magic is. The 12th of August Wednesday afternoon is the one to circle on the calendar. Long period, clean conditions, and decent size. It’s a bit of a wait, but it’s going to be worth it.

Rusty.

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