Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Look, I’ll be straight with you—this is a tough stretch for Whakatane Heads. The next couple of weeks are mostly flat or tiny, with a real gap in quality surf. The first decent wave doesn’t show until Tuesday the 11th of August, and even then it’s ordinary. The best chance comes much later, on Monday the 17th of August, when things finally line up.

Let’s start with the water. Whakatane Heads is sitting at about 57°F, which is a degree colder than we’d normally expect for this time of year. That’s a bit nippy, but not shocking.

From Sunday the 2nd right through to Monday the 10th of August, it’s a write-off. Swell barely hits 0.7ft to 2ft, period is mostly 5 to 6 seconds, and the combined energy sits in the weak range (8 to 39). Winds are all over the shop—some clean mornings, but the waves just aren’t there. There’s a big gap of nine days with no real surf on offer. You’d be better off staying home.

Tuesday the 11th of August brings the first sign of life. Tuesday morning we see a 4ft swell from the north with a 6-second period—short and weak, but it’s surfable. The combined energy is only 86, so it’s still weak. Winds are light and offshore from the south, which keeps it clean. It’s a real beginner-friendly size, but don’t expect much push. Tuesday afternoon gets a bit messy with a light cross-onshore.

Then another gap. From Wednesday the 12th through to Saturday the 15th of August, we’re back to tiny waves—1.0ft to 2ft—with weak energy. A few clean windows, but nothing worth paddling out for.

Sunday the 16th of August shows a slight uptick. The morning has 2ft swell from the northeast at 10 seconds, with a light cross-offshore wind, and combined energy finally hits 91—still weak, but getting closer. The afternoon sees 106 energy (still moderate) but with a cross-shore wind that messes it up.

Now for the standout. Monday the 17th of August is your best bet. Monday morning brings 2ft northeast swell with a 10-second period, light cross-offshore winds, and combined energy of 186—moderate, finally some push. It’s clean and surfable, not huge, but good for a fun session. Then Monday afternoon is the real gem: the swell jumps to 6ft from the north, period 6 seconds, but the winds go glassy and the combined energy hits 333 (strong). The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s a solid pick. Swell direction from the north is close to the optimum NNE, so it’ll wrap in nicely. At 6ft, it’s fine for intermediate and advanced surfers, but beginners might find it a bit much. The glassy wind means it’ll be super clean. Crowds are possible at Whakatane Heads, so keep an eye out.

For the rest of the 16-day window, nothing else stands out. The consistency is fairly low, but that Monday afternoon window is a cracker.

That’s the picture. Stay patient, and keep that Monday 17th of August afternoon locked in. Rusty out.

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