Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Whakatane Heads.

It’s gonna be a slow start, I'm not gonna lie. The next few days are pretty flat, and we’ve got a gap of quiet conditions with no real surf to speak of from Thursday 6th August right through the weekend. The 6th and 7th are offering up tiny knee-high dribble with a long period but no energy, and the wind is all over the shop. Sunday 9th August has a brief moment of glassy conditions, but still only 0.3ft, so it’s more of a paddle than a surf.

We get a bit of a pulse on Monday 10th August, but it’s a messy one. The swell jumps to 8ft from the NNW, but it’s a short period windswell, and we’ve got onshore wind and heavy rain. The combined energy is low overall (52) until the afternoon when it kicks up to a moderate 1006, but it’s still a cross-onshore mess. Tuesday 11th August isn’t much better – the swell drops back and the wind is cross-on. Really, the first week is a write-off.

Now, hold onto your board, because the real action is on the 17th of August. Monday 17th August is the standout. We’re looking at a solid 8ft swell from the north, with a period of 11 seconds, giving it real grunt. The combined energy is a massive 1636 (strong to very strong wave energy). This is proper groundswell, and it’s going to be powerful. With a clean offshore wind from the SSW all day, it’s going to be a ripper, but this is heavy stuff – over 8ft, so this is for experienced surfers only. The offshore wind is a massive plus, keeping the faces clean and lined up.

The day before, Sunday 16th August, also has some size (5ft) but the wind is cross-on, so it’s not as clean. The 17th is the one to circle.

After that, the swell backs off, but Tuesday 18th August still has a fun 5ft north swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is light and offshore in the morning. Clean, manageable. The energy is moderate (453). A solid option for a follow-up session.

The very end of the outlook, on Friday 21st August, shows a 5ft swell from the ENE with a light offshore wind, and the energy is moderate (234). It’s a decent way to finish the run, but the 17th is the bomb.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a dud. The second week, specifically Monday 17th August, is the big one. Get your skis on if you’re a beginner, but for the experienced crew, that’s a day to look forward to. The water temp is about average for this time of year, no real surprises there.

Rusty.

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