Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about Makaha. This is a reef break that’s very consistent, exposed to the swell, and it loves a good SW direction. The water temperature is sitting at 69°, which is a whopping 7° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so don’t expect that winter chill – the water is properly warm.

Right now and through the first few days, it’s a bit of a non-starter. The swell is tiny, around 1 ft to 2 ft, and the wind is cross or cross-onshore from the south. The combined wave energy is low, between 113 and 199 (weak), and conditions are just poor. You’d be wasting your time. That quiet spell stretches from Monday the 24th right through to Wednesday the 26th.

Things start to look a little more interesting on Thursday the 27th. The swell stays small at around 2 ft, but the period jumps to 20 seconds in the morning. That’s a very long period groundswell. The combined energy hits 458 (moderate), but the cross-onshore wind still messes with the surface. It’s marginal at best.

The real standout window starts Friday the 28th. The swell builds to 6 ft in the morning and 7 ft in the afternoon, coming from the SW with a solid 15-16 second period. The combined energy jumps to 1676 and then 1985 (strong). This is proper swell. The wind is light and cross-on, so it won’t be glassy, but it’ll be workable. This is the best on offer for the whole outlook. Saturday the 29th keeps that momentum with 6 ft to 6 ft swell, but the energy drops a notch. Still a good couple of days.

From Sunday the 30th onward, the swell gradually backs off. We’re looking at 4 ft to 5 ft, with periods dropping into the 12-13 second range. The wind stays mostly cross-on from the south or southwest. The energy is moderate, between 477 and 746. Not bad, but nothing to get overly excited about.

The second week, from around September 1st, the surf hangs in the 2 ft to 5 ft range. The morning of Friday September 4th is worth a mention: the wind goes light onshore from the WSW, and the swell is 5 ft at 15 seconds, with combined energy of 1253 (strong). It’s marginal but could be fun if you’re keen.

Further out, Monday September 7th and Tuesday September 8th show another small bump. The swell picks back up to 4 ft to 6 ft, with periods around 16-19 seconds, and energy levels hitting 1118 to 1590. That’s promising, but it’s far away, so treat it with a pinch of salt.

Bottom line: if you want the best waves, aim for Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th. That’s the biggest, most energetic swell of the window. It’s not perfect, but it’s the closest we get to good.

Rusty.

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