Surf Forecasts:
Cliffs surf forecast from 24 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 2.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) 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
Alright, let’s switch to feet, knots, and Fahrenheit—Rusty again, same story, different numbers.
For the Cliffs, it’s a beach-and-reef break that breaks consistently, but you’re gonna be disappointed. The first sniff of swell is Sunday August 23rd afternoon: 2ft of long-period SSW groundswell (15 seconds) but blasted by 22 knot NE cross-off wind. Water temp’s 81°, right on average for this time of year.
From there through the rest of August, it’s a dead zone. Swell hangs between 2ft and 2ft, wind stays 16–22 knots from ENE or NE, cross-off. Combined energy stays weak to moderate (248 to 277 for example). Every period is tagged "poor surf conditions." No standout days.
Come September: Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd, swell climbs to 3ft from the S with long periods of 16–18 seconds and combined energy jumps into the strong zone (640). But still, 19–22 knot ENE cross-off wind. The data calls it "marginal" at best.
The only half-decent window is Thursday September 3rd morning (again, the data says Thursday morning, September 3rd), when wind drops to 16 knots—"moderate breeze"—and combined energy is moderate (408). Still just a score of 1. Swell is 3ft from S at 15 seconds. That’s your pick of a very, very poor bunch.
Second week looks the same: 2ft to 3ft swells, constant cross-off wind. Sunday September 6th morning shows 2ft SSW groundswell at 18 seconds but combined energy is weak (296).
Honestly, with that wind and a beach-and-reef setup always exposed, this is more a kite-surfing scene than a paddle-surfing one. Leave the boards at home.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Wed afternoon). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 18 | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 191 | 100 | 166 | 156 | 127 | 146 | 142 | 121 | 215 | 307 | 351 | 716 | 427 | 482 | 260 | 324 | 225 | 89 | 89 | 186 |
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 | 1:46AM0.26m | 2:26PM0.67m | 2:21AM0.29m | 2:56PM0.68m | 2:55AM0.33m | 3:24PM0.68m | 3:31AM0.37m | 3:53PM0.66m | 4:08AM0.41m | 4:20PM0.62m | 4:47AM0.46m | 4:49PM0.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:18PM0.14m | 6:59AM0.08m | 9:35PM0.13m | 7:43AM0.06m | 9:53PM0.11m | 8:24AM0.05m | 10:12PM0.10m | 9:05AM0.06m | 10:32PM0.08m | 9:46AM0.07m | 10:54PM0.07m | 10:31AM0.10m | 11:17PM0.05m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 18 | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | E 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | 191 | 100 | 166 | 156 | 127 | 85 | 142 | 121 | 215 | 307 | 351 | 716 | 427 | 482 | 260 | 324 | 225 | 85 | 90 | 102 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NNE 8 | SSW 12 | NNE 8 | SSW 11 | E 13 | E 12 | E 14 | S 13 | E 13 |
| kJ | 35 | 56 | 49 | 47 | 16 | 146 | 81 | 81 | 165 | 135 | 137 | 7 | 47 | 11 | 22 | 32 | 26 | 104 | 89 | 121 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 6 | SSW 18 | SSE 12 | SSE 6 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | NNE 8 | W 10 | NNE 7 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 22 | 71 | 62 | 23 | 46 | 29 | 8 | 109 | 14 | 4 | 50 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 56 | 89 | 75 | 186 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 349 | 307 | 247 | 240 | 218 | 423 | 310 | 317 | 239 | 176 | 194 | 160 | 144 | 161 | 107 | 140 | 299 | 227 | 227 | 247 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 122 | 36 | 43 | 35 | 35 | 43 | 43 | 36 | 43 | 43 | 35 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 122 | 36 | 37 | 43 | 37 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cliffs surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
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