Surf Forecasts:
Makaha surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, SSW swell with 432 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Makaha this week:
The surf forecast for Makaha over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Makaha in the next 16 days are 1.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Makaha over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s on the cards for Makaha.
It’s a pretty frustrating start, to be honest. The first week is a write-off. From Thursday the 20th of August right through to Tuesday the 1st of September, the surf is either too messy, too small, or the wind is just junk. We're looking at a solid 12-day stretch of marginal to poor conditions where it’s hardly worth paddling out. The energy in the water is weak, mostly sitting between 150 and 650 (combined energy), and the wind is a persistent cross or cross-onshore breeze that’s just chopping everything up.
The real story here, and the only thing worth getting excited about, is the pulse that shows up on Friday the 28th of August. We’re talking a serious injection of strong, very long-period groundswell from the SW. The morning sees 7ft swell with a period of 17 seconds, and the afternoon cranks it up to 8ft with a 16-second period. The combined energy spikes right up to over 2500, which is proper powerful. This is expert territory, no question – 8ft at a reef break with that much grunt is not for the faint-hearted. The wind is light and coming from the SW, which is a cross-on condition, but with the swell so strong and the air so slight, it’ll likely be glassy enough to handle. The water temperature is sitting at 70°, which is a massive 8° warmer than average – very unusual for this time of year, you’ll be in boardshorts.
That Friday the 28th is the standout, no doubt. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th hold similar, but dropping, energy with 6ft to 6ft swell. Still solid, still powerful, but the wind starts to get a bit more side-on and choppy.
Makaha itself is a very consistent, exposed reef break that handles a SW swell perfectly. It’s an expert-only spot when it gets over 8ft, and we push close to that on the Friday. The crowds? Yeah, it says they’re "often" there, and when a proper SW groundswell like this lights it up, you can expect it to be busy. For the crew who know what they’re doing, that Friday the 28th is the session to circle.
Tide and local bank conditions always matter at a reef, so keep an eye on that. For the rest of us, it’s a long wait for a single, powerful window.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 18°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | S 11 | SW 14 | SSW 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 540 | 432 | 318 | 215 | 177 | 108 | 82 | 92 | 83 | 108 | 96 | 95 | 87 | 58 | 55 | 54 | 84 | 118 | 112 | 89 | 126 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:36AM0.50m | 1:39AM0.69m | 11:54AM0.45m | 2:51AM0.72m | 1:38PM0.43m | 3:41AM0.76m | 2:50PM0.45m | 4:18AM0.81m | 3:36PM0.48m | 4:49AM0.85m | 4:14PM0.51m | 5:15AM0.88m | 4:49PM0.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:39PM0.26m | 9:09AM0.43m | 6:54PM0.26m | 10:07AM0.39m | 8:02PM0.23m | 10:38AM0.36m | 8:53PM0.20m | 11:03AM0.34m | 9:35PM0.17m | 11:25AM0.31m | 10:10PM0.14m | 11:48AM0.29m | 10:44PM0.13m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 6 | S 11 | S 6 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 540 | 432 | 318 | 215 | 177 | 108 | 82 | 61 | 60 | 63 | 66 | 95 | 76 | 56 | 55 | 35 | 35 | 32 | 112 | 24 | 126 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | S 6 | S 10 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 80 | 90 | 132 | 97 | 109 | 80 | 51 | 49 | 83 | 47 | 96 | 41 | 87 | 58 | 25 | 48 | 45 | 118 | 24 | 48 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 11 | SW 18 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 28 | 28 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 60 | 58 | 92 | 31 | 108 | 43 | 67 | 36 | 35 | 55 | 54 | 84 | 38 | 68 | 89 | 69 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 30 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lima | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Peru | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Makaha Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Makaha provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Makaha can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Makaha surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Makaha) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Makaha may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Makaha is 2 km (1 miles) from the city of Lima. If you plan a holiday in Lima, look for hotels and other accommodation in Lima. Lima has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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