Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a mixed bag coming down the pike at Makaha, a classic reef break on the West side. Honestly, the next week or so looks pretty average at best, with a lot of marginal conditions and dodgy winds. The real standout is lurking way out in the forecast, so patience is going to be key.

Right off the bat, the first recommendation isn’t until Monday the 17th of August morning, but it’s not exactly firing. We’ve got a 4ft SW swell, but the wind is a cross-shore S at 12 mph, putting a chop on the surface. The water temp is a very unusual 71°, which feels way warmer than normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate though, sitting at (800). But honestly, the conditions are marginal and it’s a bit of a write-off.

Monday afternoon it drops right off to a tiny 2ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period. The wind swings cross-offshore from the SE, so it might look clean, but there’s next to no size.

Tuesday the 18th of August sees some more energy come in, with 7ft to 8ft SW swell, periods around 12 to 13 seconds. That combined energy jumps to (1383) and (1819) – moderate to strong. But the wind stays cross-shore from the SSE at 12 mph, so it’s lumpy. Might be okay for a more experienced surfer, but the cross-chop ruins the party.

From Wednesday the 19th of August through to the end of the month, it’s a real struggle. The swell drops and the wind just keeps messing things up. Most days have that cross or cross-onshore S or SSW breeze, keeping waves fairly chopped out. The size fluctuates between 1ft and 7ft, but the quality just isn’t there. The combined energies are mostly low to moderate, peaking briefly at (936) on Wednesday the 19th morning. The short periods in there, like 9 seconds, don’t help. It’s a gap of pretty much flat or poor conditions from the 17th right through to the 28th of August.

Then we get a glimpse of something better. On Friday the 28th of August, the swell picks up to 4ft from the SW with a nice long 17-second period. The combined energy jumps to (1071), moderate-to-strong. Still a light cross-onshore S breeze, but the sets might have some push and shape. That’s the first day that’s worth a look for patient surfers. It’s not a standout, but it’s better than what we’ve seen.

Now, the real standout is building for the end of the first week of September. We’re talking Saturday the 29th of August morning: a solid 7ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period, and the combined energy is strong at (2117). The wind is a light cross-onshore S at 9 mph, so there’s still a bit of texture, but that’s a lot of water moving. This is getting into expert territory – over 7ft, so beginners should stay well clear. Sunday the 30th of August morning also looks solid at 6ft SW with light winds and a combined energy of (1155).

But the true highlight, if the forecast holds, is Tuesday the 1st of September. That morning we’ve got a 8ft SSW swell, but the wind is a messy cross-onshore at 9 mph. However, Tuesday afternoon is the one. The swell pumps up to 10ft from the S, with a short period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is massive at (2768). The wind is a moderate cross-onshore, so it’ll be choppy, but for the big-wave crew at Makaha, that’s the session. It’s too big for anything else. That’s a long-range call, and things can change, but it’s the only day that really screams "go time."

Overall, the first two weeks are a wash. Focus on Friday the 28th, and definitely keep an eye on Saturday the 29th through Tuesday the 1st of September for the real deal.

Rusty.

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