
Surf Forecasts:
Empty Lots surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 19s period, SSW swell with 708 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period with S 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s 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 1.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Empty Lots over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – the next 16 days at Empty Lots are a tough watch. The spot’s a reef break, exposed to the swell, but every single reading shows cross-shore wind, and the wave comments are flat-out “poor” or “marginal.” There’s nothing that jumps out as a proper session. The first stand-out moment doesn’t even come until the morning of Tuesday the 28th of July, and even that’s a marginal call.
Let’s walk through it. The first week is a write-off. From Friday the 17th through to Monday the 27th of July, it’s all cross-shore breeze, mostly 15 to 22 mph, bumping up the surface. The swell is all over the place – small south-southwest pulses with very long periods (16 to 24 seconds) which *should* mean groundswell, but with those winds whipping across, it’s just lumpy cross-chop. The water temp is 80°, which is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. The combined energy sits mostly in the moderate range (382 to 940), but with that wind, you’re not getting clean lines.
Then we hit the Tuesday the 28th of July morning. This is the one true standout. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the east, period 15 seconds – that’s long-period groundswell. The wind drops to just 6 mph from the east, still cross-shore but light enough that it’ll be glassy. The combined energy is strong at 1893. Now, this is a reef break, so a long-period east swell should wrap in nicely. The only catch: this swell is over 5 ft, so it’s getting into the range that’s a bit much for beginners, and while it’s not huge, the long period (15 seconds) means bigger sets and longer lulls. It’s best for the experienced crew. Don’t expect many people around – the crowds are only “sometimes” here, so you might have it quiet.
After that, the 29th of July morning drops to 5 ft from the east, period 12 seconds, still with a moderate cross-shore, but the energy is down to 944. It’s okay, but not special. The 30th of July has 4 ft east-northeast swell, period 11 seconds, with a light breeze on the morning – that’s a better bet for a more relaxed session, though the energy is moderate (716). The 31st of July morning sees a small 2 ft south-west groundswell (16 seconds) but with a light cross-on shore, so it’s messy.
Then it fades out into August with nothing worthwhile.
So the bottom line: you’ve got a long dry spell, then a promising morning on the 28th of July. That’s your best window. Keep an eye on it, because the long-range is always a bit less certain, but with the wind dropping that light, it could clean up proper.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 24 | SSW 23 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
223 | 284 | 192 | 236 | 287 | 251 | 246 | 187 | 153 | 193 | 407 | 343 | 329 | 307 | 342 | 437 | 426 | 480 | 561 | 507 | 616 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:14PM0.69m | 7:09AM0.42m | 6:44PM0.60m | 8:16AM0.46m | 7:10PM0.51m | 9:31AM0.50m | 7:31PM0.43m | 10:46AM0.54m | 7:33PM0.36m | 11:52AM0.59m | 12:45PM0.63m | 10:43PM0.26m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 11:21AM0.14m | 1:14AM0.10m | 12:16PM0.22m | 1:44AM0.11m | 1:23PM0.30m | 2:15AM0.11m | 3:02PM0.36m | 2:48AM0.12m | 6:02PM0.36m | 3:27AM0.12m | 4:16AM0.12m | 9:32PM0.26m | |||||||||
5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 13 | SSW 11 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 23 | S 13 | SSW 20 | S 11 | SSW 18 |
223 | 284 | 192 | 187 | 210 | 121 | 73 | 126 | 71 | 193 | 407 | 343 | 329 | 307 | 342 | 268 | 426 | 209 | 561 | 166 | 616 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | SSE 9 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | S 13 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | ENE 7 | SSW 24 | S 13 | SSW 22 | S 12 | SSW 20 | S 11 |
144 | 140 | 90 | 87 | 87 | 30 | 66 | 107 | 152 | 121 | 80 | 105 | 73 | 103 | 62 | 437 | 125 | 480 | 134 | 507 | 81 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SE 8 | SE 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SW 19 | SW 18 | W 12 | W 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 17 | S 10 | SSW 18 | E 12 | SSW 16 | S 13 |
93 | 79 | 58 | 17 | 18 | 52 | 28 | 29 | 92 | 83 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 23 | 61 | 143 | 78 | 204 | 103 | 173 | 85 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | — | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 10 | E 6 | ENE 11 | E 6 |
66 | 82 | 101 | 236 | 287 | 251 | 246 | 187 | 153 | 124 | 169 | 106 | 67 | 105 | — | 92 | 93 | 259 | 73 | 430 | 119 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 21 | 13 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 24 | 21 |
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.










