Pipeline Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, giving you the same story but in feet and miles per hour. Let's break down Pipeline.

Honestly, this forecast is a bit of a bummer for surfers. The wave energy is weak for the bulk of it, and that swell coming from the south just doesn't have the punch this break needs.

We kick things off on Friday, August 28th, with tiny, weak swell. We're looking at waves around 1 ft, with wave energy figures as low as 7 to 38 – that's barely enough to get you wet. The wind is a cross-offshore from the east-northeast at 15 to 18 mph, which keeps the surface glassy, but there's no power. The water is warm at 81°F, which is normal for this time of year.

This flat spell drags on for days. There's a little pulse on Sunday the 30th, with the swell lifting to 2 ft from the south-southwest, but the period is a long 16 seconds, and the energy is still just moderate (226). That long period can make a wave like Pipeline a bit too straight for its own good, and with this size, there's just nothing to work with. The wind stays cross-offshore, so it will look pretty, but you'll be floating.

The entire first week is a wash. We see a tiny glimmer on Monday, September 6th, with a "marginal" call on 2 ft, but nothing special. The one time this whole period looks interesting is on Friday, September 11th. We get a pulse of swell from the north-northeast at 4 ft with a short period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 275 (moderate). The big news is the wind: it swings offshore from the south-southeast at 12 mph. For that Friday morning only, the surface will be clean and lined up. But 4 ft is tiny for Pipeline. It's not a barrel day, but for a clean, easy-going session on a small wave board, this is the best bet in the whole 16 days.

After that, Saturday the 12th drops right back down to small, weak stuff. So, if you're a beginner, this whole stretch is too small and weak to learn on. For the experts, that one Friday morning on September 11th is your only real shot at a few fun ones. Otherwise, it's a clean but flat spell.

Rusty.

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