Surf Forecasts:
Bay Front surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, E swell with 1,374 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bay Front this week:
The surf forecast for Bay Front over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bay Front in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bay Front over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Bay Front has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it’s a bit of a waiting game. The first real window of opportunity doesn't open up until late in the piece, so don’t get too excited about this weekend.
We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing much to start. From now through the rest of this week and into the next, it’s mostly poor surf conditions with light cross-onshore breezes messing with the surface. The swell is hanging around the 3ft to 4ft mark, but it’s short-period stuff, mostly around 8 seconds, and the combined energy is weak to moderate (194 to 223). Not worth paddling out for.
The first sign of life shows up on Monday the 24th of August. The afternoon finally sees a shift – the wind swings to a light cross-offshore breeze from the ESE at 6 mph, and the surf cleans right up. We’ve got a 7ft swell coming from the east with a 9-second period. The combined energy is strong (676). The water temp is about average for this time of year. This is the best stretch on offer, with clean conditions and punchy waves. Tuesday the 25th keeps that quality going with similar 6ft east-southeast swell and light cross-off winds. This is your window.
Be warned though – Bay Front is a reef break that rarely breaks, so this is a special little run. And it can get a crowd, so don't expect to have it to yourself. Also, for the beginners, that 6ft to 7ft east swell is getting up there, so it might be a bit much. After Tuesday, the wind starts to get messy again, turning more cross-shore and cross-on, and the quality slips back into marginal territory.
Looking further ahead, the end of the month and into early September is more of the same – small, short-period dribble with cross-winds. Nothing to write home about.
So to sum it up: hold out for Monday afternoon the 24th through Tuesday the 25th. That’s your best bet for clean, fun waves. Everything else is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 6 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 191 | 135 | 202 | 160 | 167 | 159 | 169 | 119 | 51 | 79 | 93 | 54 | 177 | 257 | 386 | 1055 | 1354 | 1098 | 899 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:37AM0.61m | 5:52PM0.50m | 9:03AM0.61m | 5:11PM0.43m | 10:44AM0.63m | 11:57AM0.68m | 9:40PM0.31m | 12:45PM0.72m | 11:41PM0.34m | 1:21PM0.77m | 00:34AM0.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:27AM0.07m | 1:21PM0.39m | 1:03AM0.10m | 4:14PM0.43m | 1:53AM0.12m | 3:11AM0.13m | 8:36PM0.31m | 8:07PM0.28m | 5:43AM0.08m | 8:15PM0.25m | |||||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | 6:46 | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 9 |
| kJ | 191 | 135 | 202 | 160 | 167 | 159 | 169 | 119 | 51 | 79 | 60 | 36 | 177 | 257 | 386 | 1055 | 1354 | 1098 | 899 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | NE 7 | SE 10 | NE 7 | SE 9 | NNE 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 7 | SE 9 | E 8 | E 6 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | ESE 11 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSE 13 |
| kJ | 15 | 43 | 15 | 42 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 51 | 27 | 36 | 26 | 29 | 42 | 107 | 15 | 14 | 3 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | SE 10 | NNE 8 | SE 10 | N 7 | SE 10 | S 16 | E 9 | SE 9 | E 8 | NNE 7 | ESE 8 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 16 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 54 | 17 | 17 | 4 | 50 | 50 | 48 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 6 | — | NNE 7 | — | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 93 | — | 35 | — | 33 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 171 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 84 | 85 | 54 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 87 | 100 | 93 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Bay Front Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Bay Front provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bay Front can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bay Front surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Bay Front) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Bay Front may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Bay Front is 1 km (1 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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