Surf Forecasts:
Big Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, S swell with 412 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 13s is also forecast. 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 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (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 talk about what’s on the menu for Big Beach.
Look, we’ve got a long stretch ahead, and I’ll be straight with you: it’s not going to be one for the history books. The whole 16-day window is filled with small, clean but pretty ordinary conditions. There are no real standout days that will get the pulse racing – it's more of a long, steady grind of smaller south swells. The water temp is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year, so no surprises there.
We kick off Sunday, August 16. It's small, with a 3 ft south swell running at a very long 16 seconds. That period is noteworthy – it's a proper groundswell. For a beach break like Big Beach, a period that long can make the waves break a bit too straight and wall up, making it tricky to find a good pocket. It’s not ideal for this setup. The combined energy is a moderate 572, but the wind is a cross-off from the ESE at 12 mph, which should keep things tidy enough for a beginner session. There are thunderstorms about, though. Afternoon drops to 2 ft but the wind lightens.
Monday the 17th looks a little better for the early crew. We’ve got the same 3 ft south swell, but the period has dropped to a still-healthy 14 seconds. The big win here is the morning wind – a proper offshore from the ENE at 12 mph. That’s going to groom the faces nicely. The energy is at 300. It’s a solid option for a learner or longboarder if the tide is right, but nothing for the rippers.
The rest of that week and into the next is a real grind. From Tuesday the 18th right through to Sunday the 23rd, we’re looking at puny 2 ft to 2 ft swells. The period drops to around 12-13 seconds on the weakest days. Winds are mostly light and cross-off or offshore, which is nice for the skin, but the wave height just isn’t there. The energy levels drop into the 100s and low 200s – weak stuff. There’s a little spike on Thursday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd with moderate energy in the high 200s on a 2 ft SSW swell, but it’s still just ordinary, surfable waves.
Now, the second week gets a tiny bit more interesting. By Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, we see a consistent offshore wind pattern from the NE, still on a small 2 ft to 2 ft SSW swell. The standout moment comes on Tuesday morning the 25th of August. The swell is 2 ft from the SSW with a period of 16 seconds, giving a moderate but punchy combined energy of 403. The wind is a light offshore from the NE at just 6 mph. That combination of light offshore wind and that long-period energy will mean clean, glassy lines, though it'll still be small and a bit fat for a beach break. It’s the best-looking session of the whole run.
Wednesday the 26th has a similar energy level at 561 on a slightly bigger 3 ft swell, but the wind turns cross-off, taking a little polish off the wave. Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th continue with that small 2-3 ft south swell and light winds, but the energy backs off a touch. We’re still in the 200-300 range for energy. Then we close out the last weekend of August with a step down in size again, back to 2-2 ft and poor surf conditions from the 29th right through to the 31st, with the wind picking up and the energy dropping below 300.
The one to aim for? If you’re going to paddle out, make it Tuesday morning, August 25. It’s the best combo of clean offshore wind and the highest comparative swell energy for a beach break that doesn’t like the very long period. It’s still small, but it’s your best chance at a smooth, glassy session on a clean little runner.
Stay patient, and stay wet.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 43mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the ENE on Sat night, light winds from the ENE by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Wed morning, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
412 | 330 | 183 | 347 | 264 | 257 | 170 | 123 | 119 | 117 | 69 | 71 | 129 | 209 | 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 | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 36 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 22 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
412 | 216 | 110 | 347 | 264 | 257 | 170 | 123 | 119 | 69 | 107 | 63 | 58 | 40 | 202 | 278 | 219 | 162 | 261 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 16 | S 13 | S 6 | SSW 5 | E 9 | W 11 | E 8 | SW 18 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | E 7 | E 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 |
158 | 330 | 168 | 44 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 50 | 79 | 117 | 69 | 71 | 129 | 209 | 39 | 52 | 37 | 37 | 84 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | W 12 | S 16 | W 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | WSW 6 | SW 17 | W 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 14 | SSW 18 | E 8 |
99 | 26 | 183 | 23 | 31 | 37 | 3 | 74 | 14 | 79 | 67 | 65 | 45 | 21 | 21 | 37 | 35 | 66 | 22 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | E 8 | E 5 | E 5 | E 9 | E 4 | — | ENE 5 | E 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 4 |
2344 | 671 | 382 | 270 | 100 | 159 | 96 | 39 | 150 | 12 | — | 23 | 93 | 76 | 54 | 94 | 50 | 47 | 19 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 103 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maui | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











