Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's brewing for the Westside.

I'm not gonna sugar-coat it. The next week and a half is looking pretty flat and grim. We've got a long stretch of poor conditions ahead, so if you want a proper wave, you're gonna have to wait it out. But there is a solid pulse of swell showing up in the back half of the forecast, just a long way out.

For the next several days, right through to about the 21st of August, it's all pretty marginal. Tuesday morning the 18th has a 7ft SW groundswell on offer at Makaha, but with a cross-shore breeze and a moderate chop, it's just not clean. The water is a very unusual 71°F (much warmer than normal for this time of year), which feels weird, but it won't help those bumpy faces. The combined energy is moderate (1325) but the quality isn't there. The swell drops off steadily through the rest of the week. By Thursday the 20th, we get a bit of offshore wind (WSW 10 km/h) but the swell is down to 6ft and dropping, so it's not worth the paddle.

From the 21st through to the 27th of August, it's a proper dry spell. Swell heights barely hit 3ft, and the energy is weak. There's a tiny pulse of long-period swell from the SW on the 22nd afternoon (1ft at 19 seconds) but it's so small it's a non-event. This kind of quiet stretch happens around here, so no need to worry.

Now, here's the real deal. Look ahead to the 28th of August, Friday morning. That's where we finally get something to work with. A new SW groundswell rolls in, 6ft at a very long 17 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 2011. The wind is light offshore from the SW at just 3 mph, which will leave the faces glassy and clean at Makaha. This is the standout window. The size is solid but manageable, and that long period means some real power lines with decent waits between sets. On Saturday the 29th, the morning holds with 8ft SW swell at 15 seconds and still light winds (SSW 3 mph), but by the afternoon the wind swings onshore a touch. The 1st of September also shows a little bump with 6ft SSW swell and light wind, but it's not as clean.

If you're an experienced surfer, the window from Friday the 28th morning through to Saturday the 29th morning is your best shot. It’s got the size, the right direction, and clean conditions. Just keep in mind, with that long period at a reef like Makaha, the waves will be organized and proper, but the sets can take a while. Crowds are common here, so you'll want an early start.

The rest of the run into early September is more of the same marginal stuff, with a bit of a mixed bag on the 2nd. Don't plan your week around that second half, just lock in that end-of-August window.

Rusty.

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