Surf Forecasts:
Ma'alaea surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 20s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with 395 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ma'alaea this week:
The surf forecast for Ma'alaea over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ma'alaea in the next 16 days are 0.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 10s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ma'alaea over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s going on with the swell at Ma'alaea. This is a reef break that only turns on with a good south swell and the right offshore wind, and it’s an inconsistent spot for sure. When it’s on, it’s a rippable wave for the advanced crew, but you have to pick your moments. Water temp is right around 81°, which is totally normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
We are starting out pretty slow. The first few days (Saturday the 12th through Monday the 14th) are flat and not worth a paddle. We are talking tiny 1ft to 2ft swell with weak energy. No real push.
Then things perk up on Tuesday the 15th. That morning you’ll see a glassy start, light west wind, and a clean 2ft SSW groundswell with a period around 20 seconds. The energy jumps up to a solid moderate push. That’s the kind of long-period energy that loves a reef setup. The afternoon goes glassy calm too. That Tuesday is your first real standout – clean, glassy, small but fun. Crowds can happen here sometimes, but if you’re early you’ll be fine.
Wednesday the 16th keeps it clean with a 2ft SW swell, 18-second period, and cross-off winds in the morning. The morning energy is even stronger. Good shape, clean face, definitely the best combo of the early run.
We get a bit of a lull Thursday and Friday mornings aren't bad, but Saturday the 19th morning has the biggest combined energy of the whole run, with a 3ft SSW swell, cross-off wind, and a 16-second period. Looks clean. That is likely the best on offer if you can handle the inconsistent sets. After that, the next solid clean window is Monday the 21st morning: dead calm, 2ft SSW, glassy.
Later in the second week, Wednesday the 23rd gets messy with strong wind, not worth it. But then Friday the 25th shapes up again with a glassy morning, calm afternoon, and 2ft SSW groundswell with 14-16 second periods. The energy is back up. It won’t be huge, but clean and fun.
Overall, the standout is Tuesday the 15th and Saturday the 19th mornings. If you want the best chance at a clean, lined-up wave, those are your windows. It’s not a pumping swell, but for Ma'alaea it’s a good run.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 158 | 73 | 64 | 60 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 118 | 117 | 309 | 251 | 296 | 319 | 316 | 302 | 171 | 264 | 395 | 298 | 368 | 261 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:47PM0.58m | 5:30AM0.64m | 5:19PM0.50m | 6:15AM0.66m | 5:52PM0.44m | 7:04AM0.66m | 6:29PM0.37m | 8:00AM0.66m | 7:20PM0.33m | 9:04AM0.66m | 8:49PM0.30m | 10:11AM0.66m | 10:26PM0.30m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:34AM0.12m | 10:45PM0.05m | 11:25AM0.16m | 11:13PM0.06m | 12:19PM0.20m | 11:44PM0.07m | 1:21PM0.24m | 00:20AM0.09m | 2:40PM0.26m | 1:04AM0.12m | 4:27PM0.26m | 2:00AM0.14m | 6:00PM0.23m | 3:09AM0.15m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |  | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 30 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | NNE 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 22 | SSW 13 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 158 | 73 | 44 | 60 | 24 | 52 | 50 | 118 | 58 | 309 | 251 | 296 | 319 | 316 | 302 | 171 | 264 | 395 | 298 | 368 | 261 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | NNE 8 | SW 9 | SW 14 | SW 21 | SW 13 | NNE 8 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | NNE 6 | N 7 | ESE 7 | SSW 17 | SE 5 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 23 | 66 | 64 | 57 | 54 | 14 | 3 | 49 | 117 | 42 | 11 | 23 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 17 | 101 | 7 | 147 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | SSW 11 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | SW 12 | ESE 5 | NNE 8 | SSW 11 | N 5 | NNE 8 | SW 12 | ESE 6 | NE 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SE 6 | SE 6 | NNE 7 | SE 6 | SSW 16 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | 7 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 24 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 50 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 9 | ESE 5 | — | ESE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | N 3 | E 5 | E 4 | SW 7 | E 6 | E 5 | E 6 | NNE 8 | E 6 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 6 |
| kJ | — | 25 | 38 | — | 11 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 72 | 70 | 144 | 22 | 148 | 958 | 505 | 390 | 335 | 132 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maui | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ma'alaea Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ma'alaea provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ma'alaea can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ma'alaea 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 (Ma'alaea) 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 Ma'alaea 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.
Are you planning a vacation in Maui? If you are looking for accommodation near Ma'alaea, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in Maui, consider staying in Kihei which is 5 km (3 miles) away. Other places in and around Maui where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Wailuku which is 10 km (6 miles) away, Kahului, Lanai - Lanai and Kaunakakai - Molokai.
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