Whangamata Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the outlook is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and frankly uninviting conditions. The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t show up until the very end of the month, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a write-off. From Monday the 20th through to the end of the week, we’re dealing with tiny, short-period windswell (only 0.7ft to 2ft) with a combined energy that’s barely a whisper (values between 5 and 33). The wind is all over the place, but the swell is just too small to do anything with. You’d be chasing shadows.

We get a bit of a pulse starting on Sunday the 26th, but it’s still small. The 2ft to 2ft easterly swell has a much better period of 11 seconds, and the wind is clean offshore from the WSW, but the energy is still weak (74 to 97). It’s clean, but it’s not going to give you much.

The 27th and 28th of July are the best of the bunch. Monday the 27th sees a 2ft to 2ft easterly groundswell with a period of 13 seconds, and the combined energy climbs into the moderate range (129). The offshore wind is blowing clean, but it’s a moderate breeze, so it’ll be a bit fresh. This is a long-period groundswell, so it could be better formed at the point, but it’s still very small. Tuesday the 28th is similar, with a 2ft easterly swell at 13 seconds and moderate energy (133) in the morning, but it’s a cross-off wind.

After that, it drops right back off. The 30th of July has a very long-period groundswell (20 seconds!) but it’s only 0.7ft, so it’s just a big, rolling nothing. The energy is weak (79 to 104). This is a classic case of a long-period swell that needs a lot more size to be interesting.

The final few days into August are tiny again, with a mix of short-period and long-period junk, all under 4ft and with poor wind.

The standout: If you’re desperate, Monday 27th July at Whangamata Beach is your best bet. It’s a small, clean, long-period easterly swell (2ft to 2ft from the E at 13 seconds) with a moderate offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (129). It’s a beginner-friendly break, but it’s inconsistent at best, and the crowds are sometimes a factor. Still, for this stretch, it’s the only window with a pulse.

The long-range look: The 4th of August has a pulse of 4ft from the NNW, but it’s short period (7 seconds) and the wind is a messy cross-on. The energy is moderate (156), but the quality looks poor. It’s a wait-and-see, but don’t clear your calendar.

Rusty.

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