Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight up about what's coming our way at Whangamata Bar. The honest truth is, this forecast is a tough one for paddle surfers. We're looking at a long stretch of small, weak swell and tricky conditions. The main issue is the consistent lack of any decent wave energy. For the most part, the combined energy of the swells is in the low double digits, and even the best pulse we see only hits 141 (moderate energy at best) on Monday the 7th. That's a one-off, and it's not enough to get excited about.

So, starting out on Monday, September 7th, we have a pulse of 4ft swell from the north, but it's only got a 7-second period and the wind is a cross-off from the NNW. The wave comment says it all: "poor surf conditions." Monday afternoon looks a bit more interesting on paper with 6ft from the north, but the wind is still messy and the rating is marginal. The water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

From Tuesday the 8th all the way through to the end of the forecast on September 22nd, it's a grim picture. Swell heights drop below 3ft, and for most of that period, they're sitting at a pathetic 0.7ft or 1ft. The wind does turn clean and offshore from the SW and WSW, especially on the mornings of the 13th, 16th, and 19th, but with no swell behind it, you're just looking at a glassy, flat ocean. The combined energy values are mostly in the single or low double digits, confirming there's just no power in the water. Periods swing wildly from short 4-5 second wind slop to long 13-15 second pulses, but again, with no height, that long period groundswell energy is completely wasted here. This setup is all about the beach break, so those long period swells would just break too straight and close out, even if they had any size.

The standout? There isn't one. There is literally no recommended surf in this entire 16-day window. The model shows a blank run of poor conditions from start to finish. While it's a bit of a bummer, Whangamata Bar can be inconsistent, so this isn't completely out of the ordinary. For a bit of context, with that significant swell on Monday afternoon and the poor quality, if you're into kite surfing, that might be more interesting than trying to paddle. But for the rest of us? It's a waiting game. Forecasts can change, but right now, I'd be looking at other plans.

Rusty.

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