Surf Forecasts:
Empty Lots surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, S swell with 416 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 5AM. 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 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Empty Lots over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here.
Honestly, looking at the next couple of weeks, the surf is going to be a real struggle for a while. We’ve got a long stretch of small, messy, cross-shore slop with barely any push. The first decent bit of surfable energy doesn’t even show up until Friday the 22nd, and even then, it’s only marginal. After that, we’re looking at a grim run of poor conditions until the very end of the month. So yeah, if you’re keen, you’re going to have to be patient.
The Long, Flat Haul (16th to 27th)
The first break at Empty Lots kicks off with a stormy note on Sunday the 16th. There’s a bit of swell, around 6ft, but a fresh SE wind and the threat of a storm make it a complete write-off. The energy is weak for the size, around (1268), which says it all.
From Monday the 17th through to the 27th, it’s a real grind. We see a lot of 2ft to 3ft swell, with period around 15-17 seconds. That long period should mean some shape, but the energy is consistently weak, bouncing around (259) to (677). The wind is constantly cross-shore, from the ENE or E, with a fresh breeze most days. It’s lumpy, choppy, and just not worth the paddle. The only small highlight is Thursday the 20th, where the wind drops to a slight air, and we get a clean-ish but tiny 2ft. It’s still too small to get excited about.
Then things get a bit weird on the 26th and 27th. The swell jumps to 5ft and 5ft, but with a terrible 7-second period. It’s just wind chop, and the fresh cross-shore winds will make it a complete mess. Not even worth a look.
The End-of-Month Pulse (28th & 29th)
Finally, on Friday the 28th, we see some actual life. The swell pushes up to 7ft from the E with a period of 11 seconds. This is the standout, with the combined energy jumping right up to (2282) – strong energy. The problem is the wind. It’s a fresh cross-shore ENE breeze, which is going to put a lot of chop on it. This is the biggest surf of the window, but it’s going to be lumpy and challenging. At this size, it’s well over the 5ft mark, so it’s not for beginners, and with the wind, it could be a handful. It’s more interesting for the crew on bigger boards, but the shape isn’t going to be pretty. The water temperature is a warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no dramas with a wetsuit.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for the best of a bad bunch, that Friday the 28th is your only real option. The 7ft to 7ft E swell has real power, but you’ll be surfing with a fresh cross-shore breeze and a bumpy surface. It’s not going to be clean, but it’s the only time there’s any real size. The Saturday the 29th is a step down but still has some 7ft waves in the morning. After that, we drop right back to the tiny, messy stuff to close out the month.
Keep the faith, because a blank run like this won’t last forever. Forecasts can change, and that long period swell on the 20th is a hint we're not completely starved. But for now, the only plan is to wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | E 8 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
463 | 315 | 412 | 329 | 222 | 215 | 123 | 114 | 129 | 125 | 175 | 316 | 305 | 347 | 364 | 326 | 367 | 326 | 314 | 245 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:53PM0.51m | 7:23AM0.54m | 6:10PM0.44m | 8:25AM0.55m | 6:13PM0.37m | 9:42AM0.56m | 11:04AM0.57m | 12:12PM0.60m | 11:03PM0.23m | 1:02PM0.64m | 00:38AM0.25m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 00:28AM0.10m | 1:18PM0.31m | 00:54AM0.11m | 2:59PM0.34m | 1:23AM0.13m | 2:04AM0.14m | 3:11AM0.15m | 9:15PM0.23m | 9:01PM0.20m | |||||||||||
— | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | |
mm | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 13 | E 7 | S 13 | S 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | E 7 | E 7 |
463 | 235 | 149 | 138 | 222 | 100 | 119 | 114 | 86 | 84 | 84 | 57 | 54 | 347 | 364 | 326 | 367 | 326 | 66 | 135 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSE 7 | S 14 | S 14 | WSW 6 | S 13 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 6 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
168 | 121 | 412 | 329 | 8 | 215 | 123 | 79 | 129 | 125 | 175 | 316 | 305 | 34 | 43 | 27 | 30 | 24 | 314 | 245 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 14 | S 6 | WSW 7 | WNW 11 | SSW 17 | SE 8 | WNW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | E 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 13 | S 14 | SSE 12 | S 12 |
183 | 315 | 33 | 19 | 24 | 115 | 18 | 48 | 44 | 45 | 45 | 40 | 40 | 19 | 31 | 28 | 85 | 107 | 50 | 76 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | — | NNE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 7 | — |
454 | — | 131 | 208 | 134 | 147 | 115 | 112 | — | 26 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 96 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 33 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
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.











