Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

The main event is Ma'alaea, a tricky reef break that's advanced-only. It's inconsistent, so you gotta pick your moments. The water temp is sitting at a pretty normal 80°F for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real opportunity hits Monday morning, July 20th. We've got a clean 3 ft S swell rolling in with a super long 16-second period, and the wind is glassy out of the WNW. That's the kind of combo that makes this place sing. The combined energy is moderate (376), and with those conditions, it's about as good as it gets here. The S swell is right on the money for the optimum direction. The afternoon looks good too with a cross-off, keeping things clean.

Tuesday morning, July 21st, is another glassy session with the same 3 ft S swell, though the period drops a bit to 14 seconds. Still a very solid window. The afternoon gets a bit messy with rain showers and a cross-shore wind, so that's a pass.

From Wednesday morning, July 22nd, things shift. The swell drops to 1-2 ft, but it's a long-period groundswell from the SSW with periods of 23-24 seconds. The energy is strong though, hitting 554 on Wednesday afternoon. Still, it's a long period at a reef break, which can be a good thing for shape, but the size is small. The wind is offshore and clean, so it's worth a look if you're on a longboard.

Thursday, July 23rd, is the standout for that first week. A clean 2 ft SSW swell with a 20-second period, and glassy conditions in the morning. The energy is strong (583). The wind stays clean all day. This is your best bet for the cleanest, most lined-up waves.

The weekend of July 25-26 offers a little more size, with the swell pushing 3 ft, but the wind gets stronger, especially in the afternoons with a 15-16 mph breeze. The mornings are still clean, but the crowds are a real possibility at this spot, so get out early.

After that, the second week sees the energy drop off. We're into a run of smaller, more ordinary surf from July 27th through to August 3rd. The swell hangs around 1 ft to 2 ft, but the energy is weak to moderate, and the quality is just "surfable" at best. There's a few glassy mornings, like July 29th and July 31st, where a 2 ft S swell with a 14-16 second period could offer a clean, small wave for the patient surfer.

Finally, the last notable window comes on Tuesday morning, August 4th. A 2 ft SSW swell with an 18-second period, glassy conditions, and moderate energy (303). That's a promising, clean end to the forecast, but it's a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

Overall, the first week is where it's at. The best of the best is Thursday, July 23rd for the cleanest conditions, and the very first session on Monday, July 20th is a close second. Don't sleep on those early morning glass-offs.

Rusty.

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