Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a bit of a slow start. The first few days are looking pretty average, but don’t write it off just yet. The real story here is a building swell that looks like it could deliver some proper waves, especially for the more experienced crew.

The main spot on the menu is Makaha, a very consistent reef break. Now, the water is running at a balmy 72°, which is a whopping 9° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s far warmer than usual, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

The first proper surf we’ll see is on Sunday, August 2nd, but it’s a bit of a dud. We’re looking at a 4 ft SSW swell with a short period of 8 seconds. The wind is a cross-on from the SSW at 9 mph, making for some choppy, poor surf conditions. The combined energy is moderate at 436, but it’s just not happening. Monday and Tuesday are much the same – small, messy, and not worth paddling out for.

We start to see a glimmer of hope on Wednesday, August 5th. The swell drops a touch to 4 ft but the period stretches out to 13 seconds from the SW. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy is building (646). The morning has a light cross-on breeze, so it’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction. Still, the forecast calls it marginal.

The pattern keeps improving through the week. By Monday, August 10th, we’re looking at a 6 ft SSW swell with a 10-second period. The morning wind is light offshore from the WSW at just 3 mph. That’s clean! The combined energy is strong at 1001. This is the first real standout. For the more advanced surfers, this is your window. The size is pushing into the ‘too big for beginners’ territory, but for everyone else, this looks like the best we’ve got for a while.

The swell peaks around Tuesday, August 11th with a 7 ft S swell, 12-second period, and a very strong energy reading of 1578. Again, the morning has a light cross-on wind, but the size and power are there. This is definitely for the experienced crew only at that size.

After that, the swell eases back but stays in the 5 ft to 6 ft range for a few days, with the period staying long. The wind is a bit of a nuisance, mostly cross-on, but there are still windows of cleaner conditions. Keep an eye on Thursday, August 13th afternoon, where a 3 ft swell with a very long 18-second period arrives, but the moderate cross-shore wind will mess with the shape.

The second week is a bit more of a mixed bag. The swell drops back to around 4 ft from the SW, with long periods (14-16 seconds). The energy is moderate. The morning of Saturday, August 15th looks promising with a light cross-shore wind and a 4 ft SW swell at 15 seconds. It’s not the power of the first week, but it’s rideable. The real flurry in the second week comes on Monday, August 17th, with a 4 ft SW swell, a 16-second period, and strong energy of 1386. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but the juice is there.

So, to wrap it up: the first few days are a write-off. The standout is definitely Monday, August 10th, through to Tuesday, August 11th, with building swell and a chance for clean conditions. If you’re an experienced surfer, that’s your call. The second week is smaller and more inconsistent, but not a total loss. It’s a waiting game, but there’s some good stuff on the horizon.

Stay salty,
Rusty.

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