Surf Forecasts:
West Shore Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, ENE swell with 29 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with ENE 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s. 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 0.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for West Shore Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, lookin’ over the waves at West Shore Beach and I’m not gonna sugarcoat it—this 16-day stretch is a rough one. We’re talkin’ two weeks with barely a ripple worth paddlin’ for. Swell is flat and tiny, and when we do get a little bump, the wind’s all wrong or it’s just too weak to give you anything.
Water temp’s around 53°, so it’s a bit colder than what you’d usually see this time of year. You’ll feel that chill for sure.
Sunday the 23rd starts things off with a tiny 0.7ft of short-period ESE windswell (13 seconds but no energy behind it). Combined wave energy’s only 29 and the cross-shore wind has it chopped up. “Poor surf conditions” is the headline—don’t bother.
From Monday the 24th through the rest of the week, it’s the same story: 0.3ft to 0.7ft of ESE slop. We get some clean windows like Tuesday afternoon the 25th (glassy) and late Wednesday the 26th (clean), but the swell’s so small there’s just nothin’ to ride. Energy numbers are dribblin’ between 2 and 21.
Into the end of August and first week of September? Still dead. Saturday the 29th bumps up to 1ft from the ENE with a period of 7 seconds and a combined energy of 37—still weak and choppy. Offshore wind shows up Saturday afternoon but again, 0.7ft. No power behind it.
September rolls in and we’re lookin’ at mostly 0.3ft surf. Even the cleanest mornings around the 4th and 7th have nothin’ to ride. By the 6th, we get a little 1ft pulse from the NW but with a period of only 3 seconds and a combined energy of 6—that’s barely a ripple. Wind’s blusterin’ cross-shore, makin’ it a mess.
So through September 7th, we got zero standouts. No best days. Just a flat, quiet ocean. This 16-day window is a total bust for West Shore Beach. When the swell doesn’t line up right, this spot can go quiet for a long stretch. Sometimes that’s just how it goes.
Keep your board on the rack and wait for the next pulse. I’ll holler if somethin’ changes.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NE 4 | SE 17 | E 11 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 15 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | off | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:05AM1.43m | 2:38PM1.50m | 2:53AM1.38m | 3:23PM1.47m | 3:41AM1.36m | 4:08PM1.47m | 4:28AM1.36m | 4:54PM1.48m | 5:17AM1.39m | 5:42PM1.51m | 6:06AM1.44m | 6:28PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:05PM0.46m | 8:18AM0.44m | 8:52PM0.45m | 9:06AM0.42m | 9:38PM0.41m | 9:55AM0.39m | 10:24PM0.37m | 10:43AM0.34m | 11:10PM0.32m | 11:27AM0.30m | 11:58PM0.28m | 12:12PM0.26m | 00:44AM0.24m | |||||||
— | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 10 |
Feels °C | 14 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SSE 18 | SSE 18 | ENE 4 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | ENE 7 | SSE 11 | ESE 12 |
7 | 16 | 16 | 41 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 66 | 130 | 5 | 17 | 29 | 34 | 20 | 11 | 15 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | — | S 9 | ESE 13 | SSE 7 | SSE 13 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 18 | S 18 | S 18 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 18 | SE 17 | SE 5 | SE 14 | SE 11 | ESE 13 | SSE 11 |
17 | — | 2 | 17 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 61 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 31 | 17 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | S 9 | — | — | S 16 | NE 4 | NE 4 | S 19 | S 9 | S 8 | — | — | — | SE 10 | SE 5 | E 11 | — | ESE 13 | ENE 4 | ENE 3 |
4 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | 17 | 2 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | NNE 3 | ENE 5 | — | — | — |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 2 | 2 | 19 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 29 | 23 | 15 | 23 | 23 | 29 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 13 | 92 | 13 | 23 | 46 | 15 | 15 | 22 | 23 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Hawkes Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











