Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range look for our local waters. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up over the next couple of weeks, but there are definitely some windows to get wet.

The first real standout lands on Monday the 17th of August at Ma'alaea (Ma'alaea). This is an advanced reef break that’s known for being inconsistent, but when it lines up, it’s special. On Monday morning, we’re looking at a 2 ft south swell, with a 14-second period. The combined swell energy is a moderate 362, and with a light cross-off breeze from the NNE at 6 mph, conditions are clean. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. Across the rest of the first week, the surf stays small, mostly under 2 ft, with a few glassy mornings, but nothing with enough push to get excited about. Crowds are possible here, so keep that in mind.

The next true highlight comes on Sunday the 23rd of August. Early morning we see a jump in size with a 5 ft easterly swell, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and disorganized. The combined energy is 345, which is moderate, and with a light offshore from the NNW at 3 mph, conditions are clean. This is a decent size, but it’s not the cleanest shape for an advanced reef, so it’s more of a session for those who can handle a bit of chop.

Monday the 24th of August morning could be worth a look too, with a 5 ft east swell, same short 6-second period, and a cross-off breeze. The combined energy is 296. It’s punchy but messy.

The best window of the whole run looks like it’s building towards the end of the month. From Wednesday the 26th of August through to Thursday the 27th of August, we see a solid south swell arrive. On Wednesday morning, we’ve got 4 ft from the south, 13-second period, and a combined energy of 451. The wind is a light cross-off from the north at 6 mph, keeping it clean. Thursday morning is even better: 4 ft from the south, 12-second period, and a combined energy of 501. The wind goes glassy from the northwest at just 3 mph. This is the standout window. The swell direction is south, which is the optimum for this break, so expect good shape. Crowds are possible, but it’s worth it.

After that, the surf drops off again into the first week of September, with small, weak swells and poor conditions. The pattern is a bit inconsistent, but that’s normal for this spot.

So, to sum it up: the real highlights are the Monday the 17th morning session for a clean, small south swell, and the Wednesday 26th through Thursday 27th window for the best combination of size, energy, and glassy conditions. Get on it.

Rusty.

Read more