Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and let’s talk about the next couple of weeks. The ocean’s been, well, a bit of a letdown lately. For the first week or so, there’s just nothing doing. We’re looking at flat, small, disorganized junk – the kind of surf that makes you want to stay in bed. There’s a long stretch of poor conditions from now until mid-month. It’s not looking like a total washout, but you’ll be chasing dribbles.

Looking at the whole window, there are exactly zero days that scream "go." It's a tough run. The rare patches of something rideable are few and far between. As we move into the second week, things start to pick up a little in size, but the quality is still rough. It’s a classic case of the ocean being full of energy but with no shape or push to it.

Let's break it down. For the first few days, starting this Saturday (August 8th) and all through the next week, the surf is just poor. Swell heights are tiny, around 1ft to 2ft, with long periods but no power. The energy’s weak, with values mostly in the 100-200 range (like 178 or 113). It’s all a bit messy. The water’s an unusually warm 70°, which is a nice treat for your feet, but that’s the only positive. We’re looking at clean, glassy mornings on some days, but the waves just aren’t there. There’s nothing to ride.

We do see a slight bump in size by the 14th and 15th. The swell comes up a touch, reaching 2ft to 3ft on the Saturday. The energy climbs to 300 and 380, which is a bit better, but the waves are still poor. The period is around 16 seconds, which is a long groundswell. For a spot like Depressions (Maui), which is fairly exposed, this long period might be breaking a bit too straight on the beach break. It’s more suited for a reef or point, but this isn’t that.

Things get more interesting – and more challenging – around August 18th and 19th. We’ve got a new WNW swell filling in. On the 18th, the morning is small, but by the afternoon, the swell jumps to 6ft. That’s getting into the size where beginners should be a little wary, and for a beach break it’s getting solid. The period drops to a short, weak 6 seconds, though. That’s windswell – bumpy, raw, and mostly just a mess. With a moderate cross-onshore breeze, it’s going to be choppy and closed-out. To be honest, that’s looking more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.

By Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th, the swell backs down to the 4ft to 4ft range with a similar short period of 7-8 seconds. The energy remains in that moderate bracket, like 319 or 324. The wind is light, sometimes offshore. It’s still only marginal. It’ll be weak, lumpy, and uninviting.

The last few days of the window, from the 21st to the 23rd, are just as tricky. We keep seeing these WNW swells of 3ft to 4ft with periods of 8 seconds or less. It’s just not good. There’s energy, but no shape. The reports are all pretty much the same: poor to marginal surf, with light and sometimes cross-onshore winds.

So, here's the deal. This isn't a good spell. There's nothing that stands out as a must-surf session. If you’re desperate, the early mornings around the 15th and 16th might give you a clean but tiny 2ft wave. But don’t get your hopes up. The most noteworthy thing is the water being so warm. Beyond that, save your energy, maybe work on your tan, and wait for the next proper swell. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a blank run.

Rusty.

Read more