Surf Forecasts:
Cliffs surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, S swell with 716 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cliffs this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Cliffs in the next 16 days are 1.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cliffs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, listen up. Rusty here. This is a tough one to call. The Cliffs (Cliffs) is the only spot on the radar, and honestly, it's a bit of a waiting game. The water temperature is sitting at 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The whole 16-day outlook is a real grind. There's a massive gap at the start with no real surf to speak of, and the pattern doesn't really change. The main issue is the wind. It's a constant cross-off shore breeze, which keeps the surface clean, but the swell is just too small and weak to get excited about. The combined wave energy is moderate for some of the bigger swells, peaking at 716 on Thursday the 27th, but it's all for nothing with the wave comment screaming "poor surf conditions."
Let's be honest, the best of a bad bunch is Thursday the 27th of August, morning session. You've got a 4ft S swell packing a 17 second period, which gives it a bit of grunt. The energy is moderate (716). The wind is a fresh cross-off at 22 mph, keeping the face clean. It's a proper groundswell, so it'll have some shape, but it's still a small wave. The cliffs might offer a bit of shelter, but it's not a classic set-up.
After that, it's a slow fade. The swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft, and the period varies. The wind stays strong and cross-off for most of it, keeping the surface clean but the waves weak. By the second week, the wind backs off a bit, but the swell is still tiny. The 7th of September, Monday afternoon, is the only other moment that stands out, with a 3ft SSW swell and a 15-second period, giving a moderate energy reading of 504. The wind is a light cross-shore, which is the best wind we see for the whole run. It's still a marginal call, but it's the cleanest of the bunch.
Honestly, if you're a kitesurfer or a foil enthusiast, the consistent cross-off winds and clean, small waves might be more interesting than for paddle surfing. For a surfer, it's a long wait for very little reward.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Wed afternoon). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | E 13 | E 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 19 | SSW 18 | S 18 | S 17 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
307 | 351 | 716 | 427 | 482 | 260 | 329 | 229 | 126 | 110 | 186 | 171 | 162 | 199 | 144 | 138 | 192 | 329 | 230 | 273 | |
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 | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:24PM0.68m | 3:31AM0.37m | 3:53PM0.66m | 4:08AM0.41m | 4:20PM0.62m | 4:47AM0.46m | 4:49PM0.57m | 5:30AM0.50m | 5:18PM0.51m | 6:18AM0.53m | 5:48PM0.44m | 7:14AM0.56m | 6:20PM0.36m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:12PM0.10m | 9:05AM0.06m | 10:32PM0.08m | 9:46AM0.07m | 10:54PM0.07m | 10:31AM0.10m | 11:17PM0.05m | 11:22AM0.14m | 11:42PM0.05m | 12:22PM0.19m | 00:10AM0.05m | 1:40PM0.23m | 00:43AM0.05m | |||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | E 13 | E 12 | S 12 | SSW 16 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SSW 18 | S 18 | S 17 |
307 | 351 | 716 | 427 | 482 | 260 | 329 | 229 | 126 | 110 | 102 | 171 | 100 | 199 | 144 | 138 | 51 | 329 | 230 | 273 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | N 8 | SSW 12 | NNE 7 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 | S 13 | S 13 | E 12 | E 11 | SSW 16 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 19 | S 10 | S 12 | S 10 |
135 | 137 | 6 | 47 | 10 | 78 | 109 | 146 | 85 | 89 | 106 | 65 | 162 | 59 | 57 | 82 | 192 | 48 | 75 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | SSW 16 | NW 9 | W 9 | E 17 | SSW 11 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 12 | E 11 | ENE 10 | S 21 | SSW 19 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
8 | 50 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 22 | 36 | 56 | 89 | 75 | 186 | 46 | 61 | 37 | 34 | 122 | 54 | 80 | 51 | 52 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
160 | 206 | 182 | 151 | 131 | 150 | 160 | 253 | 252 | 265 | 326 | 229 | 217 | 229 | 286 | 458 | 444 | 489 | 444 | 444 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 43 | 43 | 36 | 36 | 7 | 35 | 49 | 35 | 43 | 50 | 36 | 43 | 43 | 36 | 36 | 46 | 3 | 35 | 37 | 35 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cliffs Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cliffs provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cliffs can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cliffs 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 (Cliffs) 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 Cliffs 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.
Cliffs is 8 km (5 miles) from Honolulu. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in Honolulu. Honolulu has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











