Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the horizon for the next couple of weeks.

It’s a quiet start, but there’s a pulse building. For the first few days, we’re looking at small, featureless waves with poor conditions. The real action doesn’t kick in until around Friday the 28th. That’s when the energy starts to show up, and it stays with us through the first week of September.

The standout window is from Friday the 28th of August through to the following Friday, the 4th of September. The best of the best is shaping up to be Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th of August, with a solid SW groundswell pushing in. We’re looking at head-high to well-over-head sets, with the combined energy hitting 1637 and 1950 on Friday, and staying strong at 1316 on Saturday. The swell direction is dead-on from the SW, which is the optimum direction for the spot. The wind is a bit of a letdown, staying cross-onshore, so the surface won’t be glassy, but there’s enough power in the water to get some decent rides. This is for the more experienced crew; the swell is over 5 ft, so beginners should sit this one out.

Before that, from Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th, it’s honestly a write-off. Tiny waves, poor conditions, and cross-onshore wind. Not worth paddling out.

After the initial peak, the wave heights drop a little, but we still have plenty of SW swell. By Friday the 4th of September, we see another decent push of 6 ft SW swell with a period of 16 seconds, and combined energy of 1579. The wind is lighter that morning, which will help keep the surface cleaner. This is a solid option for the more advanced surfer, but again, the cross-onshore wind will add a little chop.

Later in the second week, around Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th, the swell drops off but the period gets very long, hitting 18 seconds. That kind of long-period groundswell can make for some fun, walled-up waves, but it’s better suited to the point breaks and reefs than a beach break. The wind is offshore or light, so the surf will be clean, but the size is smaller, around 3 ft to 3 ft.

Now, let’s talk about the water. At Makaha, the water temperature is 69°F with an anomaly of 7°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. You can leave the spring suit at home.

The crowds at Makaha can be often present, so expect some company on the better days, especially when the swell is up.

For the rest of the second week, into the 6th, 7th, and 8th, the swell is still there but the quality drops off with the wind picking up again. The 9th of September has some longer period swell with clean conditions, but it’s small.

Overall, the best surf is definitely on the 28th, 29th of August, and again on the 4th of September. The rest of the period is marginal at best, with a lot of cross-onshore wind and poor conditions.

Rusty, signing off.

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