Whangamata Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright surfers, Rusty here. Let's have a real look at what Whangamata Beach has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I'm not gonna lie to ya – it's looking like a long, flat spell for the most part. From now until basically the middle of next week, the ocean is in a bit of a snooze. There are a few tiny bumps here and there, but nothing worth getting wet for. A lot of those days the swell is barely a nudge at 1ft or 1ft with weak energy readings down around 30 to 80, and the wind is mostly cross-off, which would be fine if there was any power behind it, but there just isn't. We're looking at a good 9 or 10 days of "poor surf conditions" with scores so low they ain't worth quoting. If you're a kite surfer, you might find some fun in that clean onshore breeze on the 20th, but for paddle surfing? Save your energy.

Now, Saturday the 19th of September is where things start to get our attention. The morning sees a bit of a pulse from the north, 4ft, but with a short period of 7 seconds and only moderate energy (164), it's not exactly a game changer. But then Saturday afternoon turns on. The swell jumps to 7ft from the NNW with a period of 8 seconds. Now look, 8 seconds isn't long period groundswell, but the energy number is a solid 906 – that's strong, and it's gonna move some water. It's still a beach break setup, so that short period might mean it's a bit lumpy, but with that much power, there will be waves. The wind is a moderate cross-off from the WNW, keeping things reasonably clean. This is the first real standout of the forecast, but with that size at a beach break, it's gonna be pushing into expert territory.

But if you can wait, and you've got the skills, Friday the 25th of September is the one to circle. Friday morning treats us to a solid 8ft swell from the north, with an 8-second period and a massive energy reading of 779. The wind? Glassy, mate. A light breeze from the west, which is a light cross-off, keeping everything clean as a whistle. The forecast is calling for "very good surf conditions" and it's the only slot in the entire 16 days that gets a score worthy of that. It's big – definitely for experienced surfers only at that size, but if the banks are holding, this is the window.

Summary: It's a flat start and a long wait. There are only two real windows to get serious about: the afternoon of Saturday the 19th which brings a punchy, strong swell, and then the real highlight – Friday morning the 25th of September with a big, clean, powerful north swell. Don't hold your breath until then.

Rusty.

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