Surf Forecasts:
Big Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, S swell with 417 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Big Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Beach in the next 16 days are 1.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 6.0m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin'.
Right off the bat, the next 16 days are lookin' pretty tough for Big Beach. We've got a long, drawn-out run of small, pretty average surf, with a few flickers of hope but nothing that'll get the heart racing. The first real chance of a decent wave doesn't show up until Sunday the 16th, so the start of the period is a bit of a washout.
Let's break it down. The water temp is sittin' at a warm 80.6°, which is pretty standard for this time of year, so you can leave the winter wetsuit at home.
Saturday the 15th is a write-off. We've got a near-gale howling onshore at 31 mph, makin' a mess of the 2.6 ft south swell. That combined energy is a weak 245, and it's just not worth paddlin' out for. Leave the board in the car.
Things start to change on Sunday the 16th. We've got a 3.0 ft south swell rollin' in, with a sweet long period of 16 seconds. This brings the wave energy up to a solid 588, which is a moderate punch. The wind goes light easterly at 9 mph in the morning, droppin' to just 6 mph in the afternoon. That's cross-off, which will keep things pretty clean. This is our first real standout. The swell direction (S) isn't exactly the optimum (WSW), but the long period groundswell will push some well-shaped waves through. Word of caution: it's a beach break, so that long period can make 'em close out a bit straight, but those 3.0 ft sets should still offer some fun runners. It's a beginner-friendly height, but expect it to be busy—crowds are listed as "sometimes," so on a Sunday with the first clean swell in a while, it'll get a crew.
Monday the 17th is also worth a look. Another 3.0 ft south swell holds in, period still solid at 14 seconds. The wind goes properly offshore from the ENE at 9 mph in the morning. Clean, lined-up waves. The energy drops a bit to 374, but that's still moderate. The afternoon gets a little bumpy with a cross-off breeze, so aim for the morning session. This is solid. Good waves for an intermediate on a fun shortboard.
From Tuesday the 18th through to the start of the following week, it's a grind. Swell drops to 1.6 ft-2.0 ft with periods around 12-13 seconds. The combined energy sits in the low 200s and even down to 161. It's surfable, sure, but it's very ordinary. You'll be fightin' for scraps on a longboard. The winds are light and often glassy, so it'll be clean, but there's just no push.
Then, on Thursday the 20th, we get a little spike in period—18 seconds from the SSW. That's a very long period groundswell. The height is only 2.0 ft, but that energy readin' jumps to 251. These waves will have some weird, drawn-out shape, perfect if you've got a point break or reef to work with, but on a beach break like Big Beach, it might be too straight and fat. Still, it's clean with glassy conditions in the morning.
The second week gets interesting, but temper your expectations. Around Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, we see 2.0 ft SSW swell with 15-second periods and light winds. It's clean, but energy is in the 200-300 range. It's an alright longboard wave.
The real potential standout in the second week lands on Wednesday the 26th. We get a 2.0 ft swell from the south with a period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy jumps right up to 424. That's a lot of energy for such a small height—it'll be a deceptive day. The wave faces could have more power than you expect. Mind you, the afternoon wind gets punchy at 19 mph from the east, so it'll be a messy cross-off. The morning is better with a 12 mph ENE breeze. This one is promising but less certain given the long-range call.
Thursday the 27th keeps the 2.6 ft-3.0 ft south swell goin' with 16-second periods and energy in the 400s again. The wind is offshore enough to keep it clean-ish, but it won't be perfect.
Finally, at the very end of the window, Sunday the 30th has a 3.0 ft WSW swell comin' in with an 11-second period. That's a better direction match for the beach. Combined energy jumps to 477, so there will be some punchy, fun waves. Wind stays light from the east. This could be the best day of the whole run if the synoptic setup holds, but that's two weeks out—don't pin your holiday on it.
So, what's the call? If you've got to pick one day, make it Sunday the 16th for the cleanest, most consistent small waves. Monday the 17th morning is a
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Sat afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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) | S 13 | S 9 | S 16 | S 13 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
225 | 293 | 417 | 168 | 347 | 333 | 257 | 170 | 119 | 119 | 82 | 69 | 71 | 129 | 207 | 202 | 278 | 219 | 162 | 261 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:33PM0.53m | 6:07AM0.42m | 5:49PM0.48m | 7:00AM0.41m | 5:58PM0.42m | 8:09AM0.40m | 5:51PM0.38m | 10:09AM0.39m | 12:36PM0.42m | 1:29PM0.46m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:49PM0.06m | 11:35AM0.12m | 00:14AM0.06m | 12:13PM0.17m | 00:39AM0.06m | 1:00PM0.23m | 1:08AM0.06m | 1:51AM0.07m | 3:14AM0.08m | |||||||||||
— | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | |
mm | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 9 | S 7 | S 7 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
225 | 293 | 104 | 92 | 347 | 333 | 257 | 170 | 119 | 119 | 82 | 69 | 104 | 43 | 207 | 202 | 278 | 219 | 162 | 261 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | S 12 | S 16 | S 13 | S 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | W 11 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 12 | SW 16 | S 12 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 13 |
10 | 235 | 417 | 168 | 24 | 31 | 37 | 10 | 74 | 79 | 79 | 67 | 71 | 129 | 24 | 28 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 84 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | S 18 | S 10 | S 16 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 19 | W 11 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 16 | E 4 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | E 8 |
10 | 99 | 67 | 127 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 37 | 9 | 14 | 26 | 25 | 65 | 45 | 20 | 8 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 33 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | E 6 | E 5 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 4 | E 8 | ENE 7 | E 4 | ENE 7 | ESE 3 | E 3 |
7281 | 1677 | 671 | 516 | 328 | 100 | 178 | 86 | 167 | 120 | 138 | 224 | 153 | 17 | 89 | 89 | 11 | 54 | 3 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 362 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maui | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Big Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Big Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Big Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Big Beach 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 (Big Beach) 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 Big Beach 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.
Are you planning a vacation in Maui? If you are looking for accommodation near Big Beach, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in Maui, consider staying in Kihei which is 17 km (11 miles) away. Other places in and around Maui where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Wailuku which is 28 km (17 miles) away, Kahului, Lanai - Lanai and Kaunakakai - Molokai.











