Pipeline Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking.

For the first week and a half, you might as well leave the board in the truck. We're staring at a long, flat spell from the 9th of August right up until the 18th. There’s a couple of days around the 13th and 14th where the combined wave energy drops to basically nothing (16 to 17, weak energy). Water temp is sitting at 80 degrees, right where it should be for this time of year, but with no waves, it doesn’t matter much.

The first faint pulse comes on Monday the 18th. Pipeline will see a tiny but clean SSW groundswell. It’s only 1 feet or so, but the period is a long 17 to 18 seconds. Combined energy hits 115 in the morning and 150 in the afternoon (moderate wave energy). The wind is light and cross-off, so the surface will be glassy and clean. It’s a session for the longboard, not a barrel.

Now, if you can wait, Thursday the 20th of August is the real highlight. Swell bumps up to 3 feet from the SW, with that same long 18-second period. Combined energy peaks at 477 (moderate wave energy) – the strongest reading in the whole 16-day window. Light ENE winds with clean conditions will make Pipeline look its best. It’s not a big day, but it’s the cleanest, most consistent and best-shaped swell we’ll see.

The 21st holds similar but slightly weaker swells, but by the 22nd the wind picks up and things get messy. The 24th still shows some energy at 447 (moderate wave energy) with 3 feet of swell, but cross-shore winds will chop it up.

So here’s the take: the first eight days are a total dud. The 18th is a clean, small teaser. The 20th is your best chance to get a few decent, well-shaped waves in clean conditions. That’s the one to plan around.

Rusty.

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