Surf Forecasts:
West Shore Beach surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, SE swell with 235 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with NE 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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at West Shore Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 10s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for West Shore Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer for West Shore Beach. I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim. There's a real dry spell coming, and it starts right now.
This stretch from August 25th all the way through to September 9th is a long, flat lull. The energy just isn't there. For the vast majority of this window, we're looking at tiny, weak surf. The combined swell energy barely registers, often sitting in the low double digits or even single digits (like 22, 16, 13). We're talking knee-high slop at best. There are a few brief glimpses of something a bit bigger, but they come with their own problems.
The only real pulse of swell I can see is on Monday, August 31st, in the afternoon. The combined energy jumps up to (242), which is a moderate bump for this spot. It's a 4ft southeast swell with a 9-second period. The wind is cleaning it up from the south, but it's a stiff 15 mph cross-offshore breeze. It's better than nothing, but the forecast calls it marginal. It might offer a few rideable waves for the keen, but don't expect any standouts.
Other than that, we see a few glassy mornings with offshore or light winds – like Wednesday, August 27th, with glassy conditions, or Saturday, August 29th morning. But even then, the swell is tiny, at 0.7ft to 2ft, and the period is short. It's a beginner's playground on the small days but basically unrideable for anyone else.
Water temp on the 25th is 53°F, which is 3°F colder than usual for this time of year. So you'll want a good hood and gloves if you're even thinking about going in.
Honestly, for the next two weeks, this is a blank run. It's not unusual for the area to go quiet, but this stretch is especially long. Don't bother driving down for it. Leave the boards in the car and maybe go for a beach walk instead. Forecasts can change, but right now, it's a hard pass.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 6°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SSW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 6 | ENE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ESE 13 | NE 4 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | E 8 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 235 | 115 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:53AM1.50m | 7:15PM1.60m | 7:39AM1.57m | 8:00PM1.64m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:57PM0.23m | 1:30AM0.22m | 1:43PM0.22m | 2:15AM0.21m | |||||||
— | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 6 |
Feels °C | 15 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SSE 18 | SE 6 | E 4 | SSE 12 | ENE 5 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | ENE 4 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 |
16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 66 | 13 | 13 | 29 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 235 | 115 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | S 10 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | SSE 4 | SSE 18 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 12 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 12 | E 8 | — | ENE 8 | S 16 |
5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 62 | 6 | 1 | 35 | 8 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 6 | — | 7 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | S 19 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 17 | E 12 | SE 15 | — | SSE 14 | S 16 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 10 | SE 12 | — | — | S 20 |
1 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 59 | 3 | 8 | — | 18 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 5 | — | — | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 | N 3 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | — | SSE 4 | SSE 10 | SSW 4 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | 22 | 23 | 3 | 17 | 18 | 9 | 20 | — | — | 22 | 492 | 11 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 13 | 46 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 23 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 23 | 22 | 166 | 181 | 194 | 2 |
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.











