West Shore Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.46° S 176.88° E

West Shore Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's West Shore Beach sea temperature is
11.9° C
1.6° 

West Shore Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


West Shore Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period, SE swell with 678 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with ESE 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at West Shore Beach in the next 16 days are 1.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Mon 17th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Best Surf 6AM (Wed 19th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Most Powerful 6AM (Wed 19th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for West Shore Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let me tell you straight: this is not a week for the quiver to be packed. Monday the 17th we’ve got some waves but it’s nothing special. We start with 4ft ESE swell, period at 8 seconds coming from the wrong direction, and a bumpy SSW wind making it choppy. The combined energy reading is 364 (moderate) but it’s messy for a beach break that needs offshore from the opposite side. Monday afternoon the swell drops a touch to 4ft and the wind goes cross-off, but the quality is just marginal.

Tuesday the 18th is small and weak—3ft, period only 9 seconds, stiff 19 mph wind offshore but it’s bulldozing that tiny surf. Energy drops to around 140. Poor conditions all day.

Wednesday the 19th shows a glimmer: morning brings 5ft from the SE with a period of 11 seconds, energy climbs to 496 (moderate-strong). Wind is offshore at 16 mph and the surf looks clean. These conditions are the best of the first week—still not a standout on a larger scale. Afternoon holds 5ft with similar good shape, though that 11-second groundswell at an exposed beach might make the waves close out a bit, so keep your eyes peeled for a rip to help you out.

Thursday the 20th is a tale of two sessions: morning has 3ft, light variable wind, and clean faces, but by afternoon an onshore breeze kicks in and it goes to junk.

Friday the 21st is glassy both sessions—morning has 2ft but only 8-second period, so the wave energy is weak (45). You can get a slide but it’s tiny. Afternoon the period stretches to 10 seconds but still too small to care about.

From Saturday the 22nd through to Thursday the 28th, it’s pretty much dead. Swell under 2ft most days, weak energy, and not worth paddling out. Wind is mostly clean but the ocean is flat. This is an 8-day gap with nothing happening.

Now, here’s the spark: on Saturday the 29th of August—that’s eight days away—things change. Morning shows 6ft of E swell, period 11 seconds, energy jumps to 669 (strong), and the conditions are glassy. This is the best-looking window in the whole forecast. The swell is a good size, clean, offshore wind at 3 mph – but it’s coming from the east, while this break likes NE. Still, for a beach break with that much energy and glass, it’s going to be worth it. Afternoon holds 5ft but the wind picks up onshore sideways, so morning is the call.

Sunday the 30th has 4ft and clean gentle offshore wind in the morning, and Monday the 31st is small again. Surf fades into flatness by the start of September.

So, the standout without question is Saturday the 29th of August, morning session at West Shore Beach. The rest of the run is a mix of weak or flat spells with one decent day in the middle. Keep an eye on that Saturday before the swell fades.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue morning, min 5°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
2
0
0
2
2
2
2
2
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
ESE
9
1.3
ESE
8
1.2
ESE
10
0.9
SE
9
0.8
SE
9
0.8
SE
9
1.4
SE
12
1.5
SE
11
1.4
SE
9
1.2
ESE
9
0.9
ESE
9
0.9
SE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
288
239
279
138
112
117
549
496
339
221
138
102
42
45
65
40
19
15
12
Wind (km/h)
25
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
WSW
25
SW
25
SW
25
SW
20
SW
20
SSW
15
SW
10
W
10
E
5
NW
5
NW
5
ENE
10
WNW
15
WNW
5
W
10
NW
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
High Tide
8:55AM1.74m
9:16PM1.74m
9:41AM1.73m
10:05PM1.69m
10:28AM1.70m
10:54PM1.65m
11:17AM1.65m
11:43PM1.60m
12:09PM1.60m
00:30AM1.55m
1:01PM1.56m
1:17AM1.49m
Low Tide
2:46AM0.14m
3:04PM0.18m
3:34AM0.20m
3:56PM0.26m
4:22AM0.28m
4:46PM0.32m
5:10AM0.34m
5:36PM0.38m
5:58AM0.39m
6:25PM0.42m
6:44AM0.43m
7:15PM0.45m
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:58
6:56
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:39
 mm
4
3
3
2
Temp °C
8
9
9
6
12
11
8
7
9
9
12
12
10
12
14
11
16
18
16
Feels °C
0
3
2
1
5
4
-1
1
4
4
10
8
9
9
11
8
13
16
13
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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