Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it.

First up, I gotta be straight with you. The next week or so is a tough watch for Whakatane Heads. We've got a solid run of tiny, weak surf and even when a bit of size shows, the quality just isn't there. For the first few days, from Friday the 10th right through to Monday the 13th, we're looking at waves that are barely a whisper – 0.3ft to 1.0ft. The winds are mostly offshore or glassy, which is a tease, because the swell just isn't there to back it up. The combined swell energy is basically non-existent, in the low single digits to low twenties (like 3 to 22). It's a flat spell.

Now, things finally start to stir on Tuesday the 14th. We see a pulse of NNW windswell push in. The morning brings in 4ft surf, and by Tuesday afternoon we're looking at 5ft. The combined energy jumps to 166, which is moderate but still nothing special. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The problem? That swell period is a short, snappy 5 to 6 seconds. It's going to be a bit weak and crumbly. The wind goes glassy for both the morning and afternoon, so it will look clean, but it's still described as "very ordinary conditions." This is the best we've got for a while, but it's not a standout. It's just the first sign of life.

After that little bump, it fades back into the doldrums. Wednesday the 15th through to the end of the first week is back to poor surf with heights dropping under 3ft and combined energy falling back into the weak territory. We get a window of strong offshore winds from the SSW on Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th, blowing at 15 to 25 mph, but with the swell at a pathetic 0.7ft to 1ft, it's a complete no-go. You'd be blown off your board trying to paddle into a ripple.

There is a flicker of hope way down the line. Looking at Saturday the 25th of July, we see a more promising swell pulse. The morning shows 4ft from the NNW with a combined energy of 191 (moderate) and a glassy morning. The period is still only 6 seconds, so it's not a long-period groundswell, but it's the biggest energy reading in the whole outlook. This is our one true standout, sitting over a week away. It's a bit of a promise, but with that short period, don't expect perfection. Still, it's the only window where you might actually get a couple of rides worth paddling for.

So overall, it's a lean period. The first week is pretty much a write-off. The only real chance to get wet is that Tuesday the 14th blip, and then the more hopeful but still uncertain Saturday the 25th. Keep an eye on that last one.

Rusty.

Read more