Surf Forecasts:
Empty Lots surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, E swell with 516 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Empty Lots this week:
The surf forecast for Empty Lots over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Empty Lots in the next 16 days are 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Empty Lots over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here again, breaking it down for the imperial crew. I’ve got the boards for Empty Lots in front of me, and we are looking at a long, dry spell before anything worth paddling for shows up. Water temp is a comfortable 27°, right on the money for the season.
For the next week and a half—from Tuesday the 18th all the way to Tuesday morning the 1st of September—it’s pretty grim. That’s about 11 days of tough slogging. The wind is relentless out of the East-North-East (ENE) at 15 to 25 mph, kicking up a nasty cross-shore chop that’s ruining any chance of a clean ride. Swell is tiny at first, around 1 ft to 2 ft, with very long periods over 16 seconds. That’s quality groundswell, but with no size and bad wind, it’s just a tease. The combined energy mostly sits in the 300 to 700 range—pretty weak. The one bright spot is Thursday afternoon, the 20th. The wind goes completely glassy—dead calm—and we get a tiny 2 ft SW swell at 17 seconds, with moderate energy (398). That’s the only time in the first week you’ll get clean waves. It’ll be small, but perfect for a longboard.
Then we hit the second week, and the size cranks up but the quality crashes hard. Starting the 23rd, we get chest-to-head-high swell at 5 ft to 6 ft, but the period drops to a weak 7 to 8 seconds, and the wind stays howling from the ENE at 20 to 25 mph. The energy climbs to 500 to 700, but it’s all lumpy, wind-blown slop. By the 27th and 28th, the swell touches 6 ft to 7 ft at the same short period, with energy around 990 to 1200. But with that brutal cross-wind, this is strictly kite-surfing weather. Not worth taking a paddle board out.
Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel. On Tuesday the 1st of September, the wind shifts to a moderate 16 mph from the Northeast, and it goes cross-offshore. The swell turns proper South at 3 ft with a very long 20-second period, and the energy climbs to 993. That’s a clean, strong signal. Then Wednesday the 2nd of September is the real standout. The wind drops to a light 3 mph from the East—almost nothing—and the swell holds steady at 4 ft from the South, still with a 19 to 20-second pulse. The energy hits 1637, which is strong. That long-period S groundswell combined with near-calm winds is exactly what you want at Empty Lots. The reef will handle that long period beautifully. Circle Wednesday the 2nd of September—that’s your best shot.
Stay patient, that S groundswell will clean things up nicely.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Fri night, strong winds from the ENE by Sun morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
123 | 114 | 129 | 125 | 175 | 316 | 305 | 347 | 364 | 326 | 367 | 326 | 314 | 245 | 312 | 240 | 226 | 331 | 311 | 516 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:13PM0.37m | 9:42AM0.56m | 11:04AM0.57m | 12:12PM0.60m | 11:03PM0.23m | 1:02PM0.64m | 00:38AM0.25m | 1:42PM0.67m | 1:26AM0.28m | 2:15PM0.70m | 2:05AM0.31m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 2:59PM0.34m | 1:23AM0.13m | 2:04AM0.14m | 3:11AM0.15m | 9:15PM0.23m | 9:01PM0.20m | 5:49AM0.13m | 9:11PM0.18m | 6:44AM0.10m | 9:26PM0.16m | ||||||||||
— | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | E 6 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
119 | 114 | 86 | 86 | 82 | 57 | 54 | 347 | 364 | 326 | 367 | 68 | 314 | 245 | 201 | 191 | 186 | 166 | 156 | 127 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 12 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | W 10 | SSW 16 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | NW 11 | SSW 17 |
123 | 79 | 129 | 71 | 175 | 316 | 305 | 57 | 40 | 38 | 50 | 326 | 91 | 74 | 139 | 68 | 98 | 92 | 32 | 93 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | S 13 | W 10 | S 12 | S 14 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | E 9 | NW 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 |
57 | 48 | 69 | 125 | 45 | 39 | 39 | 32 | 54 | 77 | 55 | 51 | 47 | 106 | 46 | 46 | 41 | 46 | 50 | 29 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | — | — | — | ENE 7 | — | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 |
94 | 109 | 43 | 26 | 39 | 19 | 51 | — | — | — | 48 | — | 134 | 240 | 312 | 240 | 226 | 331 | 311 | 516 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 13 | 24 | 21 | 14 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Empty Lots Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Empty Lots provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Empty Lots can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Empty Lots 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 (Empty Lots) 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 Empty Lots 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.
Empty Lots is 0 km (0 miles) from 'Ewa Beach. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in 'Ewa Beach. 'Ewa Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











