
Surf Forecasts:
West Shore Beach surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 11s period, ESE swell with 1,350 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for West Shore Beach this week:
The surf forecast for West Shore Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at West Shore Beach in the next 16 days are 2.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 11s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for West Shore Beach over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming our way.
Well, the wind and swell are going to paint a mixed picture over this stretch. We’ve got some clean windows, but the energy levels are going to jump around a bit, and for a lot of the run, the swell just isn't big enough to get the heart pumping. Still, there are a couple of days that stand out if you pick your moment.
We kick off Tuesday, July 7th, with some surprisingly clean conditions at West Shore Beach. The morning is looking clear, with a light cross-off breeze, and the water temp is sitting at 56°, which is a touch cooler than what we’d usually see this time of year. The swell is a mere 4ft out of the east with a 9-second period – not much grunt behind it, but with that light wind, the surface should be tidy. Wave energy is pretty low (239), so it’s more of a longboard grovel than anything.
Tuesday afternoon actually gets interesting. The breeze goes glassy, and the east swell bumps up to 4ft with a 10-second period. The combined energy climbs to 320, and the conditions are looking perfect. It’s not big, but it’ll be clean and fun for a cruiser session.
Wednesday the 8th keeps the vibe going with mostly clean surf in the 4ft to 5ft range from the east. The morning has a cross-off, and the afternoon goes glassy again. Nothing mind-blowing, but solid, workable waves with moderate energy in the 384 range. It’s the kind of day you can get a few in without fighting the crowd too much – though crowds are often around here, so expect some company on the peak.
Now, we hit a major change. Thursday the 9th starts rough with strong winds and rain, but hold on for Thursday afternoon. This is where things get real. The swell jumps to 5ft out of the southeast with an 11-second period, and the combined energy goes through the roof to 1072. That’s a serious push of water. The wind is light and the surf is clean, but at 5ft with this kind of energy, it’s going to be a lot more punchy than the previous days. The file says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and I’d agree – this is the standout window for anyone who knows what they’re doing. Beginners should give this one a miss.
Friday the 10th, the swell keeps building but goes too big for this break. We’re looking at 8ft from the east-southeast on Friday morning, with energy hitting 1350. The wind is a fresh cross-off, but the wave height is pushing into expert-only territory. It’s going to be a beast. The afternoon drops slightly to 7ft, but it’s still a heavy, powerful swell.
From there, things settle down fast. Saturday the 11th is back to a clean, 4ft to 5ft east swell with an offshore wind in the morning. Nice and tidy, but unremarkable. Sunday the 12th drops off further, and the afternoon goes small and bumpy.
We then hit a dry spell. From Sunday afternoon, July 12th, all the way through to Wednesday morning, July 15th, the swell is tiny – barely 2ft to 3ft – and the wind is all over the place. There’s simply not enough ocean to surf. It’s a few days of flatness.
We finally get a pulse back on Wednesday morning, July 15th, with a glassy 2ft easterly, but the real surprise is Wednesday afternoon. A very long-period groundswell arrives: 3ft from the east-southeast, but with a period of 15 seconds. That’s a rare, clean pulse with 481 energy. This swell will have serious shape and push for its height. It’s small, but the quality will be elite – best for a point or reef setup if you can find one.
The rest of the run into the second week is inconsistent. Thursday the 16th has some 4ft east-southeast swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is onshore and messy. Friday the 17th has a strong offshore wind but only 3ft. The weekend of the 18th and 19th sees a return to small, clean surf in the 2ft to 4ft range, but nothing that will challenge you.
The real highlight? No doubt, Thursday afternoon, July 9th, for the experienced crew. The swell, the energy, and the clean conditions are a perfect storm for that level. For the casual surfer, Tuesday afternoon, July 7th, and Wednesday, July 8th. offer the best combo of manageable height and glassy conditions.
Stay safe and check the tide.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue afternoon, strong winds from the SSE by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri morning, calm by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
239 | 320 | 458 | 384 | 346 | 346 | 249 | 572 | 590 | 1350 | 962 | 537 | 246 | 410 | 325 | 214 | 159 | 121 | 137 | 98 | 74 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:43AM1.51m | 11:11PM1.58m | 11:29AM1.55m | 11:59PM1.61m | 12:21PM1.61m | 00:49AM1.65m | 1:17PM1.68m | 1:44AM1.68m | 2:14PM1.75m | 2:41AM1.71m | 3:11PM1.82m | 3:41AM1.73m | 4:09PM1.88m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:56PM0.33m | 5:27AM0.29m | 5:44PM0.33m | 6:13AM0.29m | 6:37PM0.34m | 7:02AM0.28m | 7:34PM0.32m | 7:55AM0.27m | 8:34PM0.28m | 8:53AM0.24m | 9:34PM0.23m | 9:55AM0.20m | 10:33PM0.17m | ||||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | |
— | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
239 | 320 | 458 | 384 | 346 | 346 | 249 | 500 | 590 | 1350 | 962 | 537 | 246 | 410 | 325 | 214 | 159 | 121 | 137 | 98 | 74 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | SSW 19 | — | — | S 16 | E 11 | S 20 | S 18 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 11 | S 10 | E 5 |
— | 33 | 29 | 34 | 27 | 64 | — | — | 37 | — | — | 19 | 112 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 57 | 47 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 16 | S 21 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 |
23 | 21 | 19 | 39 | 34 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | 8 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SSW 4 | SSE 10 | — | — | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | N 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 299 | 572 | 388 | 9 | 2592 | — | — | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 93 | 2 | 213 | 169 | 225 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 13 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Hawkes Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the West Shore Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for West Shore Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at West Shore Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our West Shore Beach 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 (West Shore Beach) 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 West Shore Beach 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.
West Shore Beach is 9 km (6 miles) from the city of Napier. If you plan a holiday in Hawkes Bay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Napier. Napier has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










