Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag, with a long, slow start. We're looking at a whole lot of nothing for the first week, so don't be in a rush. The real action, the stuff worth getting excited about, doesn't show up until we're into the second week.

The first real chance of a wave comes on Wednesday the 9th of September. Whangara's the only break on offer, and early that morning it's looking like a proper surprise. We've got a 5ft swell coming from the south, with a period of 9 seconds. Now, the real story here is the wind – it's glassy, dead calm. That's a massive positive. The combined swell energy is 387 (moderate wave energy), so there's some grunt in the water. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year, nothing to write home about. This is a beach and reef setup, so that glassy morning wind is going to be your window. It's a short-lived peak though; the afternoon gets messy with a cross-shore breeze. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

The next day, Thursday the 10th, we've got a cleaner but smaller option. A 3ft S swell with a moderate offshore wind from the WNW will clean things up. The energy is down to 168, so it's weaker, but it'll be surfable for a learner or someone just wanting a paddle.

Then things go quiet again until the 15th of September, a Tuesday. This is where the big energy shows up, but with a big caveat. The swell jumps to 8ft from the south, with a period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1633 (strong wave energy). This is a powerful, long-period groundswell. For a beach and reef break, that long period might make it break a bit too straight and dumpy on the beach. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, which is okay, but not perfect. This is going to be big, powerful, and for experienced surfers only. The conditions are described as marginal, and I'd be wary of the crowds.

The standout of the whole outlook, the one to circle on your calendar, is Wednesday the 16th of September. The south swell is still pumping at 6ft, but the period has stretched to 13 seconds, and the energy is 1144. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the WNW, and the forecast says "expect very good surf conditions." This is the day. The swell direction is from the south, and Whangara is fairly exposed to that, with an optimum direction from the ENE, so it's not a perfect match, but the size, the period, the wind, and the quality rating all point to this being the best session of the whole 16 days. It's a long-range call, so there's less certainty, but the promise is huge. This will be a crowd magnet, so be prepared to share the peak.

The morning of Thursday the 17th still has a clean 4ft S swell, but it's a step down in energy. After that, the surf fades out again to small, weak, and messy conditions for the rest of the period.

So, to sum it up: don't bother this week. Next Wednesday the 16th is your best bet by a long shot, with Wednesday morning the 9th being a second, much smaller, possibility if you're desperate.

Rusty.

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