Blue Bowls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this out there. The long-range models are showing some life, but the next week or so is going to be a bit of a frustrating stretch for us. We’ve got a window of small, wind-affected stuff before things start to clean up and then a real pulse of energy arrives. Buckle up, it’s a story.

Looking at the whole run, the standout is going to be that Tuesday, August 11th, morning session. That’s the one you want to plan around. It’s not the biggest swell of the period, but everything comes together – clean, glassy conditions, a solid 5ft of south-southeast swell, and that 11-second period giving it some push. The energy is moderate at 1163, and it’s an exposed reef break that likes this SE direction. The water’s about average for this time of year. It’s an intermediate wave, so it’ll have some punch, but it’s a quality option. Keep an eye on the afternoon, the wind shifts cross and it gets a bit more challenging.

Before that, Sunday the 9th is a washout. We’ve got a weak 3ft south swell, and the onshore breeze is going to wreck it. Monday the 10th is only marginally better – a little more size, but the wind is still on it, making things choppy. You’ll be scratching for anything clean, but it’s not worth the paddle. Then that Tuesday morning window opens up, and it’s your best bet for the first week. The rest of that week is a mix of onshore winds and dropping swell, so don’t get too excited.

Now, looking further out. That Monday, August 17th, is when the ocean really wakes up. We've got a big jump in energy – strong to very strong at 2146 and then 2883 – with swell building to 6ft and periods jumping to 19-20 seconds. This is a serious groundswell. The problem is, it’s coming from the SSW, and the wind is still cross-onshore, so the surf quality will be compromised. This is pushing into expert territory as it’s over 5ft. This looks more like a day for the experienced crew, and even then, it won't be pretty.

The following Tuesday, August 18th, keeps that energy strong with 7ft of SSW swell but the wind remains onshore. It's a lot of water moving, but the quality won’t be there. After that, the swell slowly fades through the rest of the week, but the wind stays a problem. By the 21st and 22nd, we're back to small, poor, choppy conditions.

So, bottom line: If you only get one session in, make it Tuesday morning, the 11th. The offshore flow and the clean 5ft south-southeast swell should make Blue Bowls (Big Island) really fun. If that big, messy SSW swell on the 17th and 18th is more your thing, bring the big board and lower your expectations for a clean wave. It’s a lot of power, but the onshore wind is going to make it a battle.

Alright, that’s the long and short of it. The first week is a grind with one gem in the middle, and the second week has the size but not the wind. Get it while you can.

Rusty

Read more