Makapu'u Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the next couple of weeks.

I gotta be honest, the outlook is a real bummer. We’re in for a long stretch of mostly poor conditions, with a lot of onshore wind and messy surf. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first bit of action is on Monday, 7 September, but it’s a rough start. Makapu'u (Oahu) is showing a 8 ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is a nasty cross-onshore at 15-18 mph with a risk of thunderstorms. The combined swell energy is huge at 2586 (strong energy), but it’s just too messy. The afternoon drops to 6 ft, but still cross-onshore and lumpy. Not one for the quiver.

Tuesday, 8 September, offers a real shift. The wind swings to a cross-offshore from the SSW, and the morning swell is 8 ft from the SSW with clean conditions. The combined energy is still big at 2499, but the wind is a fresh 18 mph, so it’ll be a bit of a battle. The afternoon clears up, with a 6 ft swell from the ENE and a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s still marginal, but clean. This is the best we’ve got in the near term. The swell is over 5 ft, so it’s not for beginners.

Wednesday, 9 September, the wind goes light and cross-on, with a tiny 3 ft swell from the SSW. The period is a long 14 seconds, which is groundswell energy, but the combined energy is weak (695). It’s only marginal, and the wind is light, so it might be a glassy session for someone on a longboard.

Then, from Thursday, 10 September, all the way through to Tuesday, 22 September, it’s a brutal run of poor surf. The wind is onshore and strong, mostly from the ENE, often blowing 15-25 mph. The swell is small and weak, with combined energy values dropping to as low as 119 (very weak). There are tiny blips of longer period groundswell from the SSW, but the wind is just too strong and onshore to make anything of it. For example, on the afternoon of 16 September, there’s a 3 ft swell from the SSW with a 18-second period and combined energy of 743 (moderate), but the wind is a fresh 15 mph onshore. It’s a kite surfer’s dream, not a paddle surfer’s.

The only real standout, if you can call it that, is the Tuesday morning session on 8 September. The 8 ft SSW swell with clean conditions is the best of a bad lot. But with a 10-second period, it’s a bit short and punchy. The swell is too big for beginners, but advanced surfers might get a few at Makapu'u if they can handle the morning wind. After that, it’s a long wait. The forecast suggests a blank run of nearly two weeks of poor to no surf. It’s a tough one, but it’s the reality for this period.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts. It tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty

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