Pipeline Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, switching to feet and Fahrenheit for you.

Let’s be honest, this is a tricky outlook. The first few days have some size, but the wind is a big problem. We’ve got a solid pulse of SSW swell arriving, but the trade winds are howling from the east and southeast, making it bumpy and messy. The real standout is going to be a window of cleaner conditions later in the first week.

The best on offer is Wednesday, September 9th. The swell drops right down to about 3 feet from the SSW, but the wind goes light and variable from the east at just 3 mph. That’s the key. It’ll be clean and glassy at Pipeline (Oahu). The wave energy is weak, only about 389-443 (combined energy), but the long period of 13-14 seconds means there’ll be some shape. It’ll be small, but for a surfer who knows the reef, it’s a proper session. The water temp is a warm 80°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Then it’s a tough slog. The swell stays small and weak through the rest of September, with the wind staying cross-off or onshore from the east. We’ve got a long stretch of marginal to poor surf from Thursday the 10th right through to the end of the second week. The energy drops to three-digit figures, often below 400. There’s a brief pulse of NNW swell showing up around Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd, with waves around 3-4 feet, but the period is short at 10-11 seconds, and the wind is still a moderate onshore breeze. It’s not the kind of thing that’ll get the blood pumping.

Honestly, if you’re not on the water Wednesday morning, you’re looking at a long wait. The forecast is lean for the next 16 days. For a spot like Pipeline, it’s a bit of a bummer. The crowds are likely there, but with this forecast, they’ll be slim pickings.

Rusty.

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