Pipeline Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s ahead for the North Shore.

To be straight with you, the next two weeks are looking pretty grim for quality surf. We’ve got a long stretch of small, mostly weak swell and cross-off winds that just won’t let up. The water temperature is sitting at 79°, which is about average for this time of year.

We’re starting off with barely a ripple. From Friday the 31st of July right through to the 5th of August, the waves are tiny, mostly 0.7 ft to 2 ft, with a weak combined energy reading (26 to 261). The wind is blowing cross-off from the east, which means the surface is clean, but there’s just no power in the water. It’s a poor period for a paddle.

After that, we see a slight bump in swell energy on the 7th of August, with a 1 ft swell from the SW but a very long period of 21 seconds. The combined energy hits 209, but it’s still weak and the conditions are described as marginal. The wind stays cross-off, so it’s clean, but the waves are just too small and inconsistent to get excited about.

The best chance for a real surf comes around the 10th of August, Monday morning. We see a 3 ft SSW groundswell with a period of 16 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 631 (moderate). The wind is still cross-off from the ENE, so the conditions will be clean. The waves will have some shape, but don’t expect perfection. It’s a marginal forecast, but it’s the best we’ll see for a while.

By the 15th of August, Saturday afternoon, the models are hinting at a bigger pulse of energy: a 10 ft SW swell, but with a short, weak period of only 7 seconds. That’s a warning sign. The combined energy jumps to 1422 (very strong), but with that short period, it’s going to be a messy, choppy beast. Given the beach and reef setup at Pipeline, this will be more interesting for the kite surfers than for a paddle surfer. It’s one for experts only, and even then, it’s risky.

So, to wrap it up: there’s no standout day in the near term. The 10th of August is your best bet for a clean, somewhat surfable wave, but don’t expect a classic. The long-range hint on the 15th of August is promising in size but very uncertain in quality.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecast.

Rusty.

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