Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in on the next 16 days for Ma’alaea. Look, it’s not pumping like winter, but this break is a sneaky one. The water temp is sitting right around 80°, which is dead average for this time of year, so nothing to fuss about.

The combined swell energy kicks off Tuesday morning, July 21st, with a weak 348, but the swell is a clean 3 ft from the south at a long 14 seconds. That’s real groundswell. The wind is a glassy 3 mph from the north, so it’ll be as clean as you’ll ever see it. This is a treat for the advanced crew, but remember, this wave is inconsistent and can be a handful. Tuesday afternoon holds up, the wind flicks to a cross-off NE breeze at 6 mph, and the wave stays tidy.

Wednesday, July 22nd, sees the period jump to 24 seconds, which is very long. The swell size drops to 1 ft, but the raw energy spikes to 496. That long period is going to make the sets fat and tardy, but the shape on a reef like Ma’alaea is usually worth the wait. By Wednesday afternoon, the wind picks up to 12 mph, which roughens it up a bit, but the morning is the clear winner.

Thursday, July 23rd, is similar with 2 ft of SSW swell at 20 seconds. The energy is solid at 467, and the wind is light. This is a consistent little run of clean, workable waves. The pattern continues through Saturday, July 25th, when the swell bumps up to 3 ft in the afternoon. That’s the biggest we’ll see, and with 18 seconds of period, it’ll have some punch. The wind is a gentle cross-off. This is likely the best day on offer, but don’t sleep on the glassy windows.

The standout for the whole period is the morning of Tuesday, July 21st. That 3 ft, 14-second south swell with glassy north wind is the best combo of clean conditions and meaningful wave height. The other standout is the afternoon of Saturday, July 25th, with the 3 ft swell – it’s the biggest wave of the run, and the late afternoon light on a clean face is a beautiful thing.

After that, the energy slowly fades into the second week. From Monday, July 27th, onward, the swell drops to 2 ft and 2 ft, and the period shortens. The combined energy readings drop into the 100s and 200s, which is weak. By Tuesday, July 28th, the comments start turning to “ordinary” and “poor.” The wind stays mostly cross-off, so the surface will be clean, but the waves will be small and weak. The best of the second week is the morning of Thursday, July 30th, with a glassy 2 ft from the south at 12 seconds. It’s a long wait for a set, but it’s ridable.

Summing it up: the first five days, from July 21st to 25th, are your window. The absolute best is the morning of the 21st and the afternoon of the 25th. The rest of the run is small and better for a longboard or a sunset cruise. Don’t expect a lot of power, but the clean conditions will save it.

Rusty

Read more