Whangamata Estuary Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate. Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on the Whangamata Estuary (Whangamata). Truth is, it’s looking like a dead stretch for the next 16 days. The data is all "poor surf conditions" and tiny numbers. There’s a gap of about 16 days here with nothing worth a second look.

The first mention is on Monday, July 13th, with a tiny 1ft swell from the east. The energy is puny at 20 (combined energy). The morning is glassy, but it’s just not enough to make a ripple. Water temp is 59°, which is normal for this time of year, so no big deal.

Tuesday the 14th picks up a little to 2ft from the north, but the period is a short 5 seconds and the wind is cross-offshore. It’s got a bit more juice at 37, but still weak. Wednesday the 15th drops back to 0.7ft, even with a longer 12-second period from the east – that’s a groundswell, but it’s too small to matter.

The whole run is the same story: tiny swell, weak energy (all under 100), and winds that are cross-shore, cross-on, or cross-off. There’s a hint of longer period groundswell (15-17 seconds) on the 17th and 18th, but it’s only 0.7ft to 1ft. The energy nudges up to 63 on the afternoon of Friday the 17th, but it’s still a feeble total. That 15-second period is a classic groundswell, but with no size, it’s a non-starter.

It never gets over 3ft, and that’s only on the 20th and 21st, with a terrible short period of 4-5 seconds. The energy hits 65 on the 20th afternoon, the highest we see, but it’s a weak, wind-affected mess. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, so expect chop.

There is no standout day. There is no best on offer. The whole 16-day window is a total write-off for surf. The Estuary is inconsistent anyway, and this forecast is a classic example of a blank run. If you’re really keen, you could try the 2ft on the morning of the 22nd with glassy conditions, but you’d be chasing a phantom. It’s a paddle, not a surf.

Rusty.

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