Pipeline Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, breaking down the same 16-day window. It’s a rough ride for the North Shore, with a long dry spell before anything even looks like a wave. You’re looking at a solid 12-day gap of no real surf.

Water temp is 79°, which is right on the money for July, so no complaints there.

Starting Thursday, July 16th, we’ve got a tiny 0.7m (2ft) SSW swell with a 17-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell, but the energy is weak (449) and the cross-offshore wind is ruining the shape. It’s a no-go. The next several days are the same story: small, weak SSW pulses, clean surface from the cross-off breeze, but nothing with any punch. The 0.6m (2ft) and 0.4m (1ft) waves are just not enough.

The big gap runs from July 16th all the way to the morning of July 28th. Not a single day scores above a 1 out of 10. For a heavy, consistent reef like Pipeline, that’s unusual. It’s exposed and needs a proper swell, and it just isn’t getting one.

Finally, on Tuesday, July 28th, we get a chance. The morning shows a 0.7m (2ft) SSW swell, but the period is 14 seconds, and the combined energy is 357—that’s moderate. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at 9 mph, which will clean the waves up. This is the only slot in the whole window that gets a “good surf conditions” call. It’s small, but the quality will be there. Expect clean, lined-up waves. Since it’s a long-period groundswell, the sets will be spaced out, making paddling out easier. But watch out—Pipeline is always crowded, and with only one good day in the entire forecast, it’s going to be packed.

After that, it’s back to junk. The afternoon of the 28th switches to a short-period 1.1m (4ft) NNE windswell with a 7-second period, which is just messy. The wind picks up, and the energy is terrible. The rest of the month into July 31st is flat or nearly so.

So, the only standout is Tuesday morning, July 28th, at Pipeline. Small, clean, and offshore. That’s your one and only shot.

Rusty.

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