Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Makaha over the next couple of weeks.

Alright, the truth is, we’re looking at a pretty quiet run right now. For the first few days, the swell is tiny and the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, so it’s not doing us any favours. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 7° above average. That’s a real standout, so expect a warm dip if you’re keen.

Monday 24th August through to Thursday 27th August, the swell is barely 1ft to 2ft from the SW, with short periods under 15 seconds. The combined energy is weak, starting at 180 and only creeping up to 460. The wind is light to moderate, but it’s coming from the south, so you’re getting cross-onshore or cross conditions. Honestly, it’s poor surf and not worth paddling out for.

Then Friday 28th August rolls in with a noticeable bump. Swell jumps to 6ft in the morning, hitting 7ft in the afternoon, both from the SW with a solid 15-16 second period. The combined energy shoots up to 1984 in the afternoon – that’s moderate-to-strong energy. But here’s the kicker: the wind is cross-on, so it’s choppy. It’s a marginal call, and at 6ft to 7ft, this is getting into the zone where beginners might find it too big, but it’s not quite expert-only. The direction (SW) matches what Makaha loves, so there’s potential, but the chop will be a pest. Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August keep the swell around 5ft to 6ft, but the wind stays cross or cross-on, so it’s still messy.

The best call in this stretch is Friday 28th August morning. At 6ft, SW swell, 16-second period, and light cross-on wind from the SSW at 6 mph, the water will have some shape, even if it’s a little onshore. The long period means the waves will have real punch and better shape, but remember, at a reef break like Makaha, that long period can make it a bit walled-up. Still, for the experienced crew, it’s the standout of the whole forecast.

After that, the swell fades a little through the end of August and into the first week of September, hovering around 3ft to 5ft. The combined energy drops back under 1000. There’s a brief pulse on Thursday 3rd September morning: 4ft, SW, 18-second period, with light onshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph. That’s a long-period groundswell, but the wind is onshore, so it’ll be lumpy. Another decent moment is Sunday 6th September morning: 5ft, SW, 16 seconds, with a light cross-shore breeze – that might offer a window of cleanish waves.

Overall, nothing here is screaming epic. The highlight is definitely Friday 28th August, especially the morning session. Expect a bit of a crowd at Makaha though, as it’s often busy. For the rest of the run, we’re looking at marginal conditions with mainly cross-on wind. It’s not a total write-off, but you’ll be working for it.

Rusty.

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