Whangamata Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – it’s gonna be a bit of a lean spell for a while.

Overall Pattern

We’ve got a small window of rideable waves starting this Friday, the 14th, and running through the weekend. After that, the taps get turned off and we’re looking at a long, flat stretch. Don’t get too excited though, because after Sunday the 16th, there’s nothing worth paddling out for until way down the line on Thursday the 27th. That’s a solid ten-day gap with barely a ripple.

The Weekend Window (August 14th – 16th)

Things kick off on Friday morning with a bit of ENE swell. It’s not huge, around 6 ft, with a short, choppy 7-second period. The wind is cross-offshore though, keeping things tidy. The wave energy is moderate (295), so there’s some push behind it, but it’ll be a bit lumpy. Friday afternoon sees the size drop to 5 ft and the energy fading (189). It’s surfable, but ordinary.

Saturday, the 15th, is your best bet. The swell drops a little more to 5 ft-5 ft from the ENE, but the period bumps up to 8 seconds, and more importantly, we get clean offshore winds from the SW all day. The morning has a light breeze, and the afternoon is still clean with a gentle offshore. Wave energy is solidly in the moderate range (277-296). This is the standout for the whole forecast. It’s not a big day, but it’ll be clean and fun.

Sunday morning still has some life, with a 3 ft swell from the east and offshore wind, but the energy is dropping fast (140). By Sunday afternoon, the wind swings onshore and gets gusty, and the swell drops under 3 ft. That’s the end of that.

The Long Flat Spell (August 17th – August 27th)

From Monday the 17th onwards, it’s a write-off. Swell heights drop below 2 ft for days on end, with barely any wave energy to speak of (values dropping from 50 right down to single digits). The winds are often offshore or glassy, which is torture because it’s just a flat, pretty ocean. There’s nothing to surf.

A Glimmer at the End (August 27th – 28th)

After what feels like an eternity, we see a pulse of new swell arrive late on Thursday the 27th. It’s a 5 ft north swell, but with a short 7-second period and onshore wind, so it’s going to be messy and marginal. The wave energy is back up (303), but the quality won’t be there.

Friday the 28th morning looks a little more promising. The north swell drops to 3 ft, but the period stretches out to 9 seconds, and we get glassy conditions. The energy is still strong (220). This could be a sneaky little session if the direction works, but it’s a long way off and the period is still relatively short for that size.

The Break: Whangamata Beach

For this whole period, Whangamata Beach is the only game in town. It’s a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent beach break that’s exposed to swell from the NE. Crowds are sometimes an issue, so expect some company on the good days. The water temp is sitting around 58°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

If you’re a beginner, Saturday the 15th is your window with the clean 5 ft swell. For everyone else, it’s a short weekend window followed by a whole lot of nothing. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but right now, don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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