
Surf Forecasts:
Pipeline surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 667 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period with NNE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pipeline this week:
The surf forecast for Pipeline over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pipeline in the next 16 days are 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 10s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pipeline over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for this stretch.
Overall, we’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of small, clean surf at Pipeline. The energy is there, but it’s mostly from long-period groundswells that are coming in from the west and south, which isn’t ideal for the break. The wind stays cross-offshore from the east or east-northeast almost the whole time, which means the surface will be glassy clean. The catch is the wave heights stay pretty small and the quality is only marginal for the most part. The water temp here is 81°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Crowds are often a factor at Pipeline, so expect company even when it’s small.
The first real nod we get is Saturday morning, September 12th. We’ve got a clean 2ft swell from the southwest, with a very long 15-second period. The combined energy is moderate (338). It’s not big, but it’s clean and there’s enough push for a few good ones. Saturday afternoon drops off to 2ft, so the morning is the window.
Sunday morning, September 13th, brings a little shift: a 3ft swell from the north-northeast with a shorter period of 9 seconds. Still clean with that cross-off wind, and combined energy is moderate (302). Worth a look if you missed Saturday.
From Monday the 14th through to the end of the following week, it’s just a series of small, marginal days. Swells bounce between 1.0ft and 3ft, mostly from the south-southwest, with periods ranging from 13 to 24 seconds. The energy readings climb into the high hundreds and low thousands as the week goes on—like Wednesday the 16th showing 581—but the wave heights just don’t back it up. It’s clean but not really breaking with any punch at Pipeline.
There’s a little uptick on Saturday, September 19th, in the afternoon. The swell holds at 3ft from the south-southwest, period 16 seconds, and the combined energy is a solid 517. Wind is a gentle breeze, and the conditions are flagged as very good. That afternoon might be the best pick of the first week.
The second week starts with more of the same small stuff, mostly in the 1ft to 3ft range, until we hit Sunday, September 27th. That’s the standout. The swell jumps to 5ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon, from the north-northwest with a 17-second period. Combined energy goes ballistic—1343 in the morning, 1435 in the afternoon. That’s strong energy for Pipeline, but at 5ft it’s still manageable for strong intermediates and up. The wind stays clean and cross-off. This is the day to circle on the calendar. It’s still over a week out, so keep an eye on it, but it’s got real potential.
If you’re a beginner, anything over 5ft could be a handful, but the 27th may be pushing it for you. For experts, it’s game on.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 16 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SW 24 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SSW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
242 | 124 | 135 | 138 | 84 | 62 | 87 | 227 | 224 | 490 | 388 | 535 | 547 | 541 | 429 | 258 | 322 | 651 | 622 | 573 | 635 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:00PM0.59m | 4:01AM0.62m | 3:11PM0.54m | 4:45AM0.62m | 3:14PM0.49m | 5:33AM0.61m | 2:56PM0.46m | 6:37AM0.59m | 8:23AM0.57m | 10:24AM0.59m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 9:10AM0.25m | 9:24PM0.13m | 9:53AM0.31m | 9:42PM0.12m | 10:39AM0.37m | 10:01PM0.12m | 11:37AM0.42m | 10:21PM0.13m | 10:44PM0.15m | 11:15PM0.18m | 00:18AM0.21m | ||||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | NE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | SSW 15 | NE 9 | NE 8 | SW 22 | NE 8 | SSW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
128 | 118 | 135 | 138 | 84 | 123 | 105 | 227 | 67 | 490 | 388 | 535 | 547 | 541 | 429 | 258 | 322 | 651 | 622 | 573 | 635 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 9 | SW 16 | E 9 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 21 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | E 10 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | S 20 |
96 | 124 | 79 | 107 | 37 | 62 | 76 | 49 | 224 | 55 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 31 | 31 | 248 | 210 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 67 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | WNW 13 | SW 15 | SW 24 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | E 12 | E 11 | SW 12 | WNW 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | W 9 | S 21 | NW 9 |
242 | 87 | 99 | 57 | 17 | 33 | 87 | 12 | 68 | 42 | 44 | 38 | 34 | 9 | 45 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 10 | — | E 5 | NE 9 | E 4 | ENE 5 | NE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 8 |
— | 166 | — | 16 | 249 | 7 | 22 | 154 | 32 | 58 | 50 | 43 | 99 | 190 | 265 | 495 | 880 | 757 | 586 | 516 | 367 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 165 | 24 | 26 | 165 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 6 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pipeline Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pipeline provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pipeline can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pipeline surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Pipeline) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Pipeline may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Pipeline is 19 km (12 miles) from Wahiawa. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in Wahiawa. Wahiawa has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










