Waiwakaiho Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. We’re looking at a lot of strong, powerful swell, but the wind is going to be our biggest enemy for a good stretch. The real standout windows are bookending the period, with a whole lot of lumpy, messy stuff in between.

It all kicks off with a bit of a wait. The first few days are rough, with strong onshore winds and big, chunky surf. The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday, September 8th. Early morning at Waiwakaiho we’ve got a clean 6 ft swell from the WSW, with a light cross-offshore breeze. The water is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year. That’s a solid, rideable wave for the experienced crew. The afternoon gets even better, turning glassy with a 6 ft swell shifting to the NW. The combined energy is moderate (1449) but the conditions will be absolutely pristine. That Tuesday afternoon is the best bet in the first week.

Then we hit a long, dry spell. From Wednesday the 9th right through the following week, the wind is all over the place – strong cross-shore, onshore, and lumpy. There’s plenty of size, with some massive 18 ft+ days (combined energy hitting 18,211 on the 11th), but it’s a total mess. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The swell is there, but the quality is gone. That’s a solid week of poor conditions.

The second week starts to look up again. Monday, September 14th morning sees a big 13 ft groundswell from the WSW with a clean cross-offshore breeze. The period is a solid 15 seconds, so expect long, powerful lines, best suited for a point or reef. This is a big, serious swell (moderate to strong energy at 6655) – only for experienced surfers.

After a few more days of messy wind, we get the real payoff. Friday, September 18th is a beauty. The morning has a clean 8 ft swell from the W with a light offshore breeze from the ESE. The afternoon turns it up a notch: a 10 ft WSW groundswell with a 15-second period and clean, cross-offshore conditions. The wave energy is strong (3831). This is the best day of the whole outlook.

And it keeps going. Saturday, September 19th morning is a standout – a 16 ft swell from the WSW with a clean offshore breeze from the SE. This is a massive, powerful swell (very strong energy at 5444), and it’s clean. Experts only, and it will be a session to remember. The afternoon holds size and stays clean. Then Sunday, September 20th wraps it up with a 12 ft groundswell and clean winds again. The end of the second week is where it’s at.

So, to sum it up: forget the first week, except for that Tuesday afternoon glass-off. The second half of the 16-day window, from Friday the 18th through Sunday the 20th, is where the magic happens. Get your board ready for that.

Rusty.

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