Whangamata Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the surf prospects for Whangamata Beach. It’s a tough stretch ahead, I won’t lie. We’re looking at a long, dry spell for any decent waves for the next week or so.

The first week is pretty much a write-off. We’ve got tiny swell and mostly uncooperative wind for days on end. The water temp is sitting around 57°, which is about average for the time of year, but you won’t be needing more than a spring suit as there’s nothing to paddle into.

We start off on Tuesday, August 25th, with a tiny 0.3ft NE windswell and a period of only 10 seconds, blown out by a cross-off wind. The combined energy is a measly 7 (weak). That’s a no-go. The whole first week drags on like this. Thursday the 27th morning brings a brief moment of glassy conditions, but it’s still just 0.3ft. It’s flat. The weekend gets a slight bump in size but the wind turns onshore and messy, so it’s not worth the look. The whole stretch from the 25th to the 31st of August is a solid week of nothing worth paddling for.

Then, there’s a faint glimmer on September 1st. Tuesday morning and afternoon see the swell push up to a knee-high 2ft to 2ft out of the ENE. The period bumps up to 10-11 seconds, which is a nice long-period groundswell. With a clean, offshore wind from the WSW and SW, the combined energy hits 119 (moderate). The wave comment calls it “surfable” but it’s really just ankle to knee high. It’s the only window worth a mention for the whole outlook.

We get another tease on September 6th, about a week away. Sunday morning shows a 3ft pulse from the NNW, but with a short period of 5 seconds (windswell). The offshore wind from the SW will keep it clean, but it’ll be weak and soft, with combined energy only at 75 (weak). It’s ordinary.

The very tail end of the 16-day window gets a tiny bit interesting. On Tuesday, September 8th, we see a 4ft swell out of the East with a period of 7 seconds and combined energy jumping to 237 (moderate). The wind is light cross-off. If you squint, you might see a couple of rideable ones, but it’s a long way off and nothing to get excited about.

Look, to be honest, there’s nothing here that qualifies as a standout. There’s a very short, crusty window on the 1st of September where you could maybe snag a tiny, clean left or right if you’re desperate and on a longboard, but the crowd factor is “sometimes” a problem, even when it’s this small. For the rest of this 16-day run, you’re better off leaving the board in the car and checking the forecast again next week. Stick with it, the quiet spells never last forever.

Rusty.

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