Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – the next couple of weeks are a real struggle for Whangamata Bar. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t show up until Sunday the 30th of August, and even then it’s only just surfable.

Starting from Monday the 24th of August right through to Saturday the 29th, it’s a total write-off. Swell heights are stuck at 0.3ft to 0.7ft, with weak combined energy (10 to 39) and no push. The wind is mostly offshore or cross-off, so the water will look clean, but there’s simply no wave to ride. It’s a frustrating wait.

Finally, on Sunday the 30th of August, we get a little pulse. Morning sees a 2ft swell from the NE with a period of 9 seconds and combined energy hitting 58. The wind is offshore from the WSW at 12 mph, keeping it clean. Afternoon holds 2ft from the NE at 8 seconds, with energy up to 74, and the wind stays offshore from the W at 12 mph. It’s not going to blow anyone away – the wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – but it’s the first chance to get wet. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird.

Monday the 31st of August starts shaky with a 2ft swell and onshore cross-wind, but the afternoon turns glassy – SW wind at 3 mph, flat calm, 1ft NE swell. Clean as a whistle, but tiny. Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd of September keep the offshore winds going, with swell hovering around 1ft to 2ft and energy in the 34 to 71 range. The waves are still ordinary, but if you’re desperate, the morning windows with clean glassy conditions might give you a fun little knee-high roller.

After that, from Thursday the 3rd of September onward, it fades again. Swell drops to 0.7ft to 1.0ft, energy barely reaches 44, and the wind turns onshore or cross-on, making it choppy and unappealing right through to Tuesday the 8th of September. The combined energy drops back to single digits and low teens – basically flat.

So, the standout here is the Sunday the 30th of August and the following Wednesday the 2nd of September mornings. The 30th has the biggest energy (74) and clean offshore wind, while the 2nd offers 2ft swell with a 9-second period and light offshore wind. It’s not pumping, but it’s the best of a very quiet run. The rest of the window is a gap of no real surf.

This is a typical quiet spell for the area – it doesn’t stay poor forever, and forecasts can change, but right now, pack a longboard and your patience.

Rusty

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