Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Howdy, Rusty here. Lookin’ at Makaha (Oahu) over the next 16 days, and honestly, it’s a tough stretch. The swell’s mostly undersized, and the wind keeps messin’ with the surface. Water temp is a balmy 68° – that’s 6° warmer than usual, so you’ll be fine in boardshorts.

It starts on Sunday afternoon, August 30th with a 5ft SW swell at 12 seconds and moderate wave energy (677). The wind’s cross-shore from the south at 12 mph, kickin’ up a cross-chop – it’s marginal at best. This break is very consistent and exposed to SW swell, which is the right direction, but the wind’s the problem.

Monday, August 31st drops to 4ft, and the morning has a light cross-onshore breeze that trashes the quality. The afternoon is no better with a moderate cross-shore and cross-chop. Tuesday, September 1st stays poor: 3ft in the morning with light cross-on wind, then 3ft in the afternoon and choppy. Wednesday, September 2nd sees a tiny 2ft morning swell with a very long 15-second period, but the cross-on wind and weak energy (387) means nothing to ride. The afternoon picks up to 3ft with an 18-second period and energy at 753 (moderate), but the wind is still cross-on. That long period could shape up nice over the reef, but the wind ruins it.

Thursday, September 3rd has 4ft in the morning with a long 18-second period and energy at 982 (moderate to strong). Still cross-on wind. The afternoon goes to 4ft at 17 seconds and energy hits 1071 (moderate to strong). It’s marginal, but this is the closest we get to half-decent in the first week.

Friday, September 4th brings the biggest swell: 6ft in the morning at 16 seconds, with a gentle cross-shore and combined energy of 1491 (strong). That’s decent size for Makaha, but the cross-chop is still there. The afternoon drops to 5ft with cross-on wind. Experienced surfers might get some hefty ones that morning, but it’s not clean.

From Saturday, September 5th on, the swell fades. It hangs around 3ft to 5ft, but the wind stays cross or cross-on, and the energy drops. Sunday, September 6th is 3ft with energy at 650 (moderate). Monday, September 7th has 3ft with a 16-second period and energy at 591 – still cross-on. Tuesday, September 8th is 4ft at 15 seconds, but light cross-on wind and energy at 761 (moderate) keeps it marginal.

Wednesday, September 9th drops to 3ft with a long 17-second period and energy at 798 (moderate), but the wind picks up to a moderate cross-shore with cross-chop. Thursday, September 10th has 4ft at 15 seconds, energy 635 (moderate), again cross-shore. Friday, September 11th morning gives a brief gift – offshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph, with 3ft SW swell at 14 seconds and energy at 468 (weak). It’ll be glassy clean, but the swell is tiny and weak. Worth a paddle on a longboard if you want a smooth surface, but that’s about it. The afternoon goes back to cross-on and poor.

Saturday, September 12th to Monday, September 14th is a total washout – swell below 3ft, energy dropping to 236, wind cross or cross-on. Poor surf across the board. This whole stretch looks more like kite-surfing conditions on the bigger cross-shore days than anything for a paddle surfer.

The only real highlight is Friday morning, September 11th, for that rare offshore wind – but the 3ft swell is small and energy is weak. If you’re keen for a glassy session on a log, you might snag a few. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for not much. Near term is grim, and the long range doesn’t save us.

Rusty.

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