Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, coffee's on, but we're in for a proper waiting game. This stretch looks like a whole lot of nothing for the next couple of weeks, so don't go getting your hopes up. The long-range stuff shows some pulses of energy, but the wind and tide just aren't playing ball. It's gonna be a grind, so here's the day-by-day.

Things kick off here at Makaha (Oahu) on Tuesday, September 8th, and it's looking pretty woeful. There's a SW swell pushing 4ft at 14 seconds, but a moderate cross-shore breeze is gonna tear it up. The combined wave energy is at 895, so there's some push, but the quality just isn't there. More of a look-and-shake-your-head morning than a paddle-out. Water temp is about normal for this time of year, so no excuses there. The wind stays messy for the afternoon too, with the swell dropping slightly.

Wednesday the 9th just gets sadder. The swell eases a touch to 3ft, but a cross-onshore wind is going to chop it right up. Bumpy, lumpy, messy, and just poor conditions all around. Don't bother.

Thursday the 10th gives us a little more size, back to 4ft, but the period shortens up to 15 seconds. The wind is still from the wrong direction, making it a marginal, onshore affair. The energy is still moderate at 767, but the surface won't be clean. You might pick up a couple, but you'll be scratching for them.

Friday the 11th is a split day. The morning has a light SW offshore wind – at last, some clean conditions! The swell is 3ft at 14 seconds and the energy is moderate. It's still small, and the tide might muck with it, but this is the first real chance to get a few clean ones. The afternoon, though, goes back to poor, choppy stuff. A frustrating tease.

The weekend is a total washout. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are both no-go zones. The swell gets shorter period and more southerly, underneath moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds. Poor, choppy, and the energy is fading fast. Not worth the walk down the beach.

Monday the 14th we see a little pulse of longer-period energy, up to 18 seconds, but the swell is only 2ft. The wind is still a gentle cross-onshore, which will keep it bumpy. It's marginal, a glimmer of hope, but still not a green light.

From Tuesday the 15th through Thursday the 17th, the pattern repeats: small surf, cross-onshore winds, and poor-to-marginal conditions. The energy is bleeding out, dropping from 612 down into the 200s. A real test of patience.

Then, we finally see some size creep back into the forecast for the following weekend. Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th see the swell build back up to 4ft and 5ft, but it’s short-period windswell from the S and SSW, with the swells coming in at 7 and 8 seconds. The cross-onshore wind will be all over it, turning it into absolute slop. The energy is moderate, but the quality is terrible. If that wind was offshore it could be a blast, but as it stands, it's just a mess. With that much sideshore breeze, this setup might be more interesting for the kite surfers than for us paddle surfers.

Monday the 21st, the swell drops back to 4ft and holds a 9-second period. Still cross-onshore, energy is down. More of the same.

The final days, the 22nd and 23rd, are more of the same – tiny, short-period slop under a light cross-onshore breeze. Not one true standout in the entire 16-day run. It’s a tough stretch, and a blank run like this can be pretty typical for the area, but with a few days being more consistent than others, it's likely the ocean will sort itself out. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Hang in there, kids.

Rusty

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