
Surf Forecasts:
West Shore Beach surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, ESE swell with 589 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for West Shore Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for West Shore Beach. Gotta be straight with you – this is a tough block of forecasts for our local stretch. The next week and a half is mostly a write-off for any decent paddle surfing, but there’s a flicker of real hope right at the very end of the window.
The overall pattern is grim. We’ve got a long, long stretch of tiny, weak, and messy surf. The first recommendation I can make for a surf isn't until the morning of Thursday, July 16th, and even then, it’s just a teaser. Up until then, we’re looking at flat, choppy junk. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 55°, which is about a couple of degrees off the average for West Shore Beach.
Here’s how it shakes out. The first real glimmer of life hits on Thursday afternoon, July 16th. We get a small bump of 2ft from the ESE with a long period of 17 seconds. That's a proper groundswell, and the energy reading of 224 (moderate) is the first we’ve seen. The real kicker is the light cross-offshore wind cleaning it up. It’s tiny, but it’ll be glassy and shaped better than anything else so far.
Friday morning, July 17th, is the true standout of the first week. The swell jumps to 4ft from the ESE, still riding that 16-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 546 (moderate). With a light cross-offshore breeze, the lines are going to be clean and smooth. This is the best on offer for the first half of the forecast. The waves will have some grunt for their size, and the long period will make the paddle out easy between sets.
The rest of the following week is a frustrating mix of small, wind-affected slop and glassy but tiny leftovers. The morning of Monday, July 20th, is glassy with 3ft, but it’s just ordinary. The same goes for the mornings of July 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. It’s better than the flat spell, but nothing to get excited about. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore in the afternoons, churning it up.
Now, hold on to your board, because things get wild in the second week. The morning of Sunday, July 26th, sees a spike in swell, but it’s a messy 6ft with a short period of 6 seconds – that’s pure windswell, sloppy and poor. But then, the afternoon of Sunday, July 26th, is a monster. We’re looking at 12ft from the ESE with a combined energy reading of 4185 (very strong). That is a massive amount of juice. The wind is light, but the warning is clear: this is too big for this break. You’d need to be an expert, and even then, it’s going to be a washing machine. The same goes for Monday, July 27th, with 8ft and 8ft, and a combined energy over 1300. It’s glassy, it’s big, but it’s for experts only – the beach break setup will be a close-out mess.
The real quality finally arrives on Tuesday, July 28th. The morning brings 6ft from the ESE with a 10-second period, and a clean cross-offshore breeze. The energy is 707 (strong). This is the second true standout. Wednesday, July 29th, morning also looks good – 5ft, glassy, and clean. The swell is dropping, but the quality will be there. For the average surfer, this is where you want to be. The waves will be a manageable size, clean, and have decent power.
If you’re a beginner, the only safe windows are the tiny, glassy days around 3ft. Anything over 5ft, especially the 8ft+ stuff, is for experts only. For the kite surfers out there, the big, windy days on the 26th and 27th of July with the onshore flow will be a dream, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a bust. The absolute best is Friday morning, July 17th, for clean, long-period fun. Then, look to the final week, specifically Tuesday morning, July 28th, and Wednesday morning, July 29th, for the best quality, manageable swell. The big stuff in between is a expert-only spectacle.
Stay patient, stay stoked.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 11 | ESE 15 | ESE 17 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | 18 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 45 | 219 | 376 | 546 | 589 | 559 | 472 | 373 | 290 | 195 | 181 | 127 | 164 | 121 | 102 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:09PM1.92m | 5:40AM1.77m | 6:09PM1.94m | 6:39AM1.77m | 7:06PM1.94m | 7:37AM1.76m | 8:01PM1.91m | 8:31AM1.75m | 8:53PM1.86m | 9:22AM1.73m | 9:45PM1.79m | 10:12AM1.70m | 10:37PM1.72m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:56AM0.13m | 11:32PM0.11m | 11:54AM0.06m | 00:31AM0.07m | 12:48PM0.02m | 1:29AM0.04m | 1:42PM0.01m | 2:23AM0.04m | 2:37PM0.04m | 3:16AM0.07m | 3:31PM0.11m | 4:07AM0.12m | 4:25PM0.19m | ||||||||
7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ENE 5 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 11 | ESE 15 | ESE 17 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
25 | 9 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 45 | 219 | 376 | 546 | 589 | 559 | 472 | 373 | 290 | 195 | 181 | 127 | 164 | 121 | 102 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | ESE 10 | NE 6 | NE 4 | — | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | — | S 16 | S 16 | SSE 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 9 |
4 | 18 | 6 | 1 | — | 18 | 32 | — | 5 | 5 | 34 | 23 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 37 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 19 | 41 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | E 14 | E 12 | S 9 | S 21 | NE 4 | E 10 | NE 10 | SSW 16 | — | S 16 | — | — | S 24 | S 23 | SSE 21 | SSE 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 19 | SSE 19 | S 19 |
19 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 24 | — | 19 | — | — | 11 | 10 | 42 | 7 | 24 | 37 | 36 | 29 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | N 2 | — | NNW 3 | WSW 4 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | SSW 2 | S 8 | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — |
10 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 6 | 18 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 323 | — | — | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 36 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 2 | 175 | 175 | 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.










