Nimitz Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

First off, it’s a bit of a slow burn for the next week or so. We’ve got some tiny, long-period groundswell rolling in, but honestly, the conditions are a mixed bag. The standout window is shaping up to be the very end of the month and into September, so hold tight.

We kick things off on Thursday, August 20th, up at Nimitz Beach (Hawaii). The swell is a small 2ft out of the southwest, but it’s got a super long 18-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The best part? It’s glassy. Dead calm. The wave energy is moderate, sitting at 434, and it’s just clean. It’s a beginner reef break, so it’s not going to be heavy, but for a tiny wave, it’ll be perfect for a longboard. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The next morning, Friday the 21st, the swell bumps up a touch to 3ft, but the wind swings onshore and the quality drops. It’s a bit of a write-off. Saturday through Tuesday is a no-go zone. The wind is howling out of the east, blowing 18 to 25 mph, creating a messy, choppy cross-offshore mess. The swell is small, the period drops, and the energy is weak. This is a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one. There’s a big gap of poor conditions here.

We get a flicker of hope on Wednesday the 26th afternoon. The wind eases a bit, and we get a 3ft south swell with a long 18-second period. The energy picks up to 643, but it’s still a marginal call. It’s a glimmer, not a goer.

The real action starts on Monday, August 31st. The swell jumps to 6ft from the east, with a moderate 13-second period. The energy is strong, hitting 1540. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze, keeping it clean. This is a solid, powerful wave for the east-facing reefs. It’s pushing toward the 8ft mark, so it’s getting into expert territory, but it’s clean.

But the absolute standout of the whole 16-day window is Tuesday, September 1st. The forecast is saying “very good surf conditions.” We’re looking at a 6ft to 6ft east swell, with a better 12-second period. The wind is lighter, a gentle breeze from the east-northeast at 9-12 mph, keeping it clean. The energy is very strong, hitting 979 in the morning and 1170 in the afternoon. This is the best on offer. The size is big enough for a proper drop but not out of control. The crowds at Nimitz can be there sometimes, but on a Tuesday, you might get lucky. This is the window to plan for.

After that, the swell drops off quickly on Wednesday the 2nd, and we’re back to tiny, weak waves. We get a small, super long-period south swell on Thursday the 3rd (21 seconds!), but it’s a cross-shore wind and the energy is weaker. It’s a long-range promise, but not a guarantee.

So, in a nutshell: The first week is a washout. The best window is the end of August into the first day of September. Tuesday, September 1st is the day to point your board at. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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