Surf Forecasts:
West Shore Beach surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period, SE swell with 433 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period with SE 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 (Aug 18) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. 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 1.3m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for West Shore Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. The surf is going to be pretty gutless for the most part, and honestly, it’s going to be a test of patience. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak waves that are barely worth paddling out for. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it.
The only real window where you might get a halfway decent wave is early on, around Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th. It’s not going to be big by any means, but it’s the best we’re going to get. Tuesday morning at West Shore Beach, you’re looking at a head-high-ish 3ft wave from the southeast, with a 9-second period. The winds are offshore, coming from the southwest at 18 mph, which will keep the surface clean. The energy is a bit weak—only 167 in the combined energy—but it’s surfable. The water’s a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 54°, which is 3° below the average, so you might want the hood.
Later Tuesday afternoon, it bumps up slightly to 4ft from the southeast, but the rain moves in and the wind picks up to 22 mph. It’s still offshore, so it’s not terrible, but the quality takes a hit. Then Wednesday morning is the pick of the week. The swell pushes to 4ft from the east-southeast, with a 10-second period, and the wind is a moderate offshore breeze from the southwest at 16 mph. The energy is moderate at 307, and it’s looking clean. This is the one to get out for.
After that, it’s a slow slide downhill. Wednesday afternoon is smaller and the wind goes cross-off. By Thursday the 20th, we’re dropping back under 3ft with a short, weak 8-second period. It’s just not doing anything. From Friday the 21st onwards, the bottom falls out. We’re talking waves below 2ft, then down to 0.7ft and 0.3ft. The swell direction is all over the place, and the periods get long but there’s no energy behind them. It’s flat, it’s weak, and it’s not worth the drive.
We’re looking at a solid week of nothing. From the 21st through the 28th, it’s just tiny, messy, and mostly onshore or cross-shore junk. There are a few glassy moments, like the 25th and the 30th, but the swell is so small—0.7ft to 1ft—that it’s just a lake. It won’t break.
There is a tiny, faint pulse of 2ft on the morning of the 1st of September, but the period is only 8 seconds and it’s weak. It’s not enough to get excited about. Honestly, this is a two-week stretch where you might be better off doing something else. The only standout is Wednesday morning, and even then, it’s not going to be a classic. But for the love of God, don’t expect anything else. The surf is just not there. This is a test of character for the local crew.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 12 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | E 12 | E 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
132 | 217 | 433 | 307 | 335 | 255 | 123 | 98 | 69 | 71 | 92 | 36 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 1:51PM1.52m | 2:05AM1.43m | 2:38PM1.50m | 2:53AM1.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:30AM0.44m | 8:05PM0.46m | 8:18AM0.44m | 8:52PM0.45m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 4 | 1 | -1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 12 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 13 | NNE 4 | ESE 13 | E 12 | S 18 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
132 | 217 | 433 | 307 | 335 | 255 | 123 | 98 | 69 | 71 | 92 | 36 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 25 | 17 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSE 10 | — | SSE 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | S 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 12 | S 11 | SE 11 | ESE 13 | NNE 4 | S 10 | E 11 | — | S 17 |
35 | 33 | — | 128 | 51 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 11 | — | SSE 15 | ESE 14 | — | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 18 | SE 11 | — | ENE 3 | E 15 | E 14 | SE 9 | SE 10 | S 10 | — | E 13 | S 17 | — |
— | 2 | — | 43 | 18 | — | 163 | 29 | 6 | 33 | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 3 | 6 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 11 | — | — | S 8 | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | — | N 4 | — | WNW 3 | — | N 4 | — | — |
3 | 11 | 19 | 9 | 1401 | — | — | 489 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 225 | 227 | 2 | 169 | 2 | 2 | 96 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 6 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 36 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
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.











