
Surf Forecasts:
Empty Lots surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 826 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 22s period with SW 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 22s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) 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 1.2m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 22s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Empty Lots over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Empty Lots. It’s a reef break, exposed to the open ocean, and it’s been a bit of a struggle lately. We’ve got a run of small, weak surf with a lot of cross-shore wind messing things up. Nothing’s really firing at the moment, but we do have a couple of windows where things clean up nicely, so keep an eye on those.
Right now, Monday morning, we’ve got a tiny 1ft SW swell but the period is a long 24 seconds. That’s all energy and no push, and the cross wind is chopping it up, so it’s pretty poor. The water’s sitting at 81.3°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The next few days are pretty much the same story – small SW swells, mostly under 3ft, with cross winds and lumpy conditions. The middle of the week has a brief pulse of ENE swell on Thursday the 17th, pushing up to 5ft to 6ft, but the period is a short, crumbly 10 seconds, and that’s just not going to hold together well on this reef. The wind will be up, so it’s going to be messy. The combined energy gets up to around 1162 in the afternoon, which is moderate, but it’s just not enough to overcome the wind.
After that, it’s a grind. Friday the 18th drops back to around 3.5ft, then the weekend gets blown out with fresh easterly winds, 20-22 mph, and the swell fades to under 3ft. The combined energy is moderate, around 800-900, but the conditions are poor. This is looking more like a kitesurfing setup than a paddle session, honestly, with all that cross-shore wind and lumpy chop.
We go through a blank stretch here – nothing rideable until the 24th, when the wind finally starts to ease. There’s still a bit of ENE breeze, but the swell is dropping back down. Then things change.
The real hope is the last couple of days of the month. On Sunday the 27th, we start to see some promise. The morning is still a bit cross-on, but the afternoon turns glassy with a light NNE breeze, and the swell builds slightly to 3ft with a 15-second period from the SSW. The energy is moderate, around 642. That’s a huge improvement.
Then Monday the 28th is the standout. Morning is glassy with a light SSW wind, and the swell is a clean 3.5ft with an 18-second period from the SSW, and the energy is up to 964. This is easily the best window we’ve seen all week. The afternoon is a bit more cross-on, but still manageable. And then Tuesday the 29th, the afternoon turns glassy again with a touch of WNW wind, holding that same 3ft SSW swell at 16-seconds. This is clean, lined-up reef surf. It’s not huge, but it’s the right direction, the right period, and the wind is finally playing ball.
So, the standout is Monday the 28th morning – that’s the one to go for if you can. The Tuesday afternoon is a close second. Everything else is a battle with the wind and weak, short-period junk. Keep the hopes up for that last stretch – it’s a promising, but we’re still a week out, so don’t book your day off just yet.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 24 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
87 | 227 | 224 | 557 | 480 | 535 | 541 | 541 | 510 | 454 | 567 | 826 | 725 | 675 | 635 | 506 | 512 | 295 | 316 | 370 | 366 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:07PM0.41m | 6:35AM0.62m | 5:22PM0.36m | 7:27AM0.60m | 5:15PM0.31m | 8:35AM0.57m | 10:01AM0.57m | 11:19AM0.58m | 11:43PM0.23m | 12:15PM0.61m | 00:42AM0.27m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 12:14PM0.24m | 11:18PM0.09m | 1:19PM0.28m | 11:41PM0.11m | 3:06PM0.30m | 00:08AM0.13m | 00:43AM0.16m | 1:55AM0.18m | 8:04PM0.21m | 8:03PM0.18m | |||||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 6:36 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 22 | ENE 5 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
76 | 227 | 24 | 557 | 480 | 535 | 541 | 541 | 510 | 322 | 371 | 826 | 725 | 675 | 635 | 506 | 512 | 257 | 316 | 370 | 366 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | SSW 14 | SW 21 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 |
19 | 74 | 224 | 27 | 16 | 38 | 52 | 73 | 71 | 216 | 214 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 15 | 27 | 24 | 158 | 146 | 142 | 33 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 24 | NE 8 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | E 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SSE 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | S 20 | SSW 18 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 |
87 | 11 | 68 | 41 | 44 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 31 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 67 | 107 | 162 | 164 | 12 | 8 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ENE 4 | — | ENE 6 | NE 8 | E 5 | E 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 |
11 | 17 | — | 53 | 96 | 27 | 41 | 64 | 115 | 454 | 567 | 363 | 334 | 295 | 287 | 257 | 228 | 295 | 315 | 280 | 256 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 144 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 27 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 21 | 13 |
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.










