Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, the water is cooking at a very unusual 72° – that’s nearly 9° warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be surfing in a bath.

We’re looking at a long stretch of days here, but the surf quality is a bit of a letdown for the first week or so. The swell is coming from the SW, which is what Makaha likes, and the size is mostly in that waist-to-chest high range (3 ft to 5 ft), but the issue is the wind. It’s a persistent cross-onshore breeze, which is putting a bit of a chop on the face. The swell energy is moderate (728 to 1209), but the period is all over the place, from short 12 seconds up to a nice, long 19 seconds. That long-period groundswell has some real grunt, but at a beachy reef like this, it might be a little too lined-up and straight. Still, the water is glassy warm.

For the first few days, the morning sessions are your best bet. The wind is lighter (10 km/h), so it’s less messy. Saturday morning the 25th has a clean 3 ft SW swell with that very long 18-second period, and light cross-onshore wind. It’s small, but the energy is there (728). Sunday morning the 26th is similar with 3 ft SW and a 15-second period, energy hitting 915. Monday morning the 27th bumps up to 4 ft SW with a 17-second period (energy 948). These are all marginal, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, it’s rideable.

The best of the next few days is probably Tuesday the 28th. The swell holds at 5 ft from the SW, period is a solid 15 seconds, and the wind is light cross-onshore. The energy is over 1000 (1044 in the morning, 1042 in the afternoon). It’s a consistent, powerful groundswell, and because it’s a reef, those long-period sets will stand up nicely. The water is still that weirdly warm anomaly. This is your standout for the first half of the forecast.

After that, things drop off a bit. Thursday the 30th through the weekend of August 2nd sees the swell drop to 3 ft-4 ft, and the wind stays cross-onshore. The energy drops below 600. It’s not great.

Now, hang on, because things get interesting in the second week. Starting Thursday August 6th, a new pulse of SSW swell arrives. Morning of the 6th is 6 ft at a short 9-second period, which is a bit of a windswell, but it’s punchy. The energy is strong (1222). The real standout though is Friday August 7th. The morning shows 8 ft SSW swell, period 10 seconds, with light cross-onshore wind. The energy is pumping hard at 1668. By the afternoon, it’s 8 ft with the same period, and energy is a massive 2211. That’s serious power. This is only for experienced surfers; it’s well over the 8 ft mark, so beginners stay on the beach. The wind is still cross-onshore, but the sheer size and energy will make for some adrenaline-charged, heavy waves at Makaha. Saturday morning the 8th holds at 8 ft with a bit more period (11 seconds) and energy of 1812. This is the main event for the whole 16-day window. The water is still warm, but that wind is the only thing keeping it from being perfect.

That’s it. Mostly a waiting game for that big SSW pulse on the 7th and 8th. Get on it if you’ve got the balls.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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