Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Makaha. The next couple of weeks are gonna have some surf, but it’s never really clean and the wind is a constant bother. Don’t go in expecting perfection.

Starting Monday afternoon, August 10th, there’s swell around 4ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, giving it some push. Combined swell energy is strong at 1073, but the wind is a cross-on from the S at 9 mph, so it’s choppy. Water temp is 71°, which is a massive 9° warmer than normal for this time of year—really unusual, feels like a warm bath. Tuesday morning the 11th cleans up a touch with lighter cross-on wind at 6 mph, same 4ft SSW swell, period stretching to 15 seconds. Still cross-onshore though, so there’ll be small ripples.

Tuesday afternoon the 11th jumps to 5ft from the SSW, period 14 seconds, energy 1002, but the wind picks up to 9 mph cross-on, keeping it choppy. Wednesday the 12th stays in the same groove: 5ft to 4ft from the SSW, cross-shore wind at 9 to 12 mph, so there’s a bit of cross-chop. Energy drops from 713 to 596. Not worth setting the alarm.

Thursday the 13th sees the swell drop to 3ft in the morning, but the period jumps to 19 seconds—that’s a very long period groundswell from the SW, energy 866. At a reef break like Makaha, that long period can line up well, but the wind is cross-shore at 9 mph, so it’s still a little bumpy. Thursday afternoon the swell comes back to 4ft, period 18 seconds, energy 1066, but the wind goes cross-on again.

Friday the 14th is the best of a so-so bunch. Morning sees 4ft from the SW with a 16-second period, combined energy 1094, and the wind is a gentle cross-shore at 9 mph, which is as good as it gets here—light cross-shore with just a slight chop. It’s not glassy, but it’s the cleanest window we’ve got. The swell direction (SW) matches the optimum for the break, so it’ll wrap in okay.

From Friday afternoon through to Sunday the 16th, it’s more of the same: 4ft to 6ft, cross-shore to cross-on winds, energy between 722 and 905. Sunday afternoon turns ugly—6ft but period drops to a short 8 seconds, and the wind howls at 18 mph from the SSE, making it a lumpy mess. That’s more for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Monday the 17th pushes up to 7ft from the S, period only 9 seconds, energy 1094, but wind is 12 to 15 mph cross-shore. That size is too big for beginners, and with that short period and chop, it’s only for experienced crew. Tuesday the 18th morning has a brief moment with 6ft from the S and a light cross-on from the SW at just 3 mph—almost calm—but it’s short-lived as the afternoon kicks back up to 15 mph.

The rest of the week into the 20th sees swell drop to 4ft, period 9 seconds, energy falling to 390 to 429. Thursday the 20th has offshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph, which is a major positive for clean surf, but the wave comment says “poor surf conditions” and “marginal.” Don’t get your hopes up.

From August 21st onward, it’s a real fade. Swell drops to 3ft, then 2ft by the 22nd, with short periods of 8 to 12 seconds and energy down to 167 to 292. Winds are light cross-on, so it’s small and weak. The 24th and 25th pick up a little—Monday the 24th has 3ft to 3ft, Tuesday the 25th bumps to 5ft with a 13-second period and energy of 727—but the wind is cross-shore to cross-on at 9 to 12 mph, so quality is still marginal.

Bottom line: the standout is Friday morning, August 14th. It’s the cleanest conditions with that 4ft SSW groundswell, long 16-second period, and the gentlest cross-shore wind we see. Makaha is very consistent, so there’s always some waves, but crowds are often here, so you won’t be alone.

Rusty signing off.

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