Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Ma'alaea over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the first week or so is looking pretty flat and forgettable. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf conditions from the end of July right through the first few days of August. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2 ft, and the wind is that cross-off or cross stuff that just won’t clean it up. There’s really nothing to get excited about. The energy in the water is weak, with combined swell energy values mostly under 150, so it’s a quiet period.

We start to see a bit of a pulse kicking in around the 9th of August. Sunday the 9th morning shows the swell bumping up to 6 ft from the east, with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy climbs to 372, which is a solid moderate energy. It’s a bit of a windswell, but the wind is a gentle cross-off, so it’s rideable. This is probably the first window where you’d want to paddle out. The water temp is sitting around 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The real standout, and I mean the one that’s got my attention, is the 10th of August. Monday morning and afternoon both look clean. The swell is small, only 2 ft to 3 ft, but it’s coming from the SSW with a very long period of 15 to 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong, hitting 415 and 512 respectively. That’s a lot of push for such a small height. The wind is glassy in the morning and glassy again in the afternoon. For a reef break like Ma'alaea, this is going to be clean, lined-up, and offer some beautiful, long rides. The crowds are sometimes a factor here, especially on a Monday, so expect maybe a few heads out. This is a break that’s inconsistent and rarely breaks well, so when it does, it’s a special day. Mark your calendar.

After that, the 11th and 12th still have some decent energy, with swell in the 2 ft to 2 ft range and long periods, but the wind gets a bit more cross-off again. The 12th morning looks glassy, with a 2 ft S swell and a 19-second period, and combined energy of 411. That’s another solid session if you’re keen but the crowds might be lighter.

The second week tails off again. By the 15th, we’re back to small, short-period swell and cross-shore winds, so don’t expect much.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The best of the bunch is Monday the 10th of August, with that long-period SSW groundswell and glassy conditions. Sunday the 9th is a close second. The rest is just waiting for the next pulse.

Rusty.

Read more