Pipeline Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient.

First up, the water temp is sittin’ right on 80°, which is dead average for this time of year. No surprises there.

We’ve got a pretty quiet start. For the first week, from Tuesday the 15th right through to Monday the 21st, the surf is pretty ordinary. Swell heights stay tiny, mostly between 2 ft and 4 ft, and while the wind is side-offshore it’s blowin’ 12 to 19 mph, which isn't doing the little bumps any favors. The wave energy sits moderate, reading between 322 and 746, but the quality just isn’t there. The call is “marginal” at best, with a few days of “poor” conditions. Honestly, those first seven days are for kickin’ back, tuning up your board, and waiting.

Things start to perk up on Wednesday the 23rd afternoon. We get a brief window of “good” surf with tiny 2 ft swell from the SSW, period 16 seconds, and light variable breeze. The energy is a modest 211. It’s sessionable, but not exactly one for the highlight reel.

Then we hit a little gap of rough conditions on Thursday the 24th with onshore wind, which cleans out again.

Now, here’s the payoff. Friday the 25th into Saturday the 26th is the true standout of this whole outlook. On Friday morning, we see glassy conditions with the wind going flat calm or a light NW. Swell holds steady at 3 ft from the SSW with a 15-second period. The wave energy jumps to 472 and then to 590 by the afternoon. By Saturday the 26th morning, we’re looking at 2 ft with side-offshore ESE breezes at just 6 mph and energy hitting 600. These are the cleanest, most inviting windows we’ve seen.

The spot to be is Pipeline, an exposed reef that really lights up when the direction is right. This 2 to 3 ft SSW groundswell with 15 to 17 seconds of period is well-suited for a reef like this. The long period means better shaped, juicier waves and longer lulls between sets, making the paddle out manageable. The wind is light and clean, so the waves are going to be facey and lined up. The crowd can be an issue here, because everyone knows when Pipeline is good, so get there early or be prepared to share.

After that, Sunday the 27th and Monday the 28th offer glassy and clean conditions again, with 3 ft to 3 ft SSW swell (14 to 16 seconds) and light winds. The energy drops a bit to the 300s and 400s but it's still very surfable and fun.

Rounding out the window, Tuesday the 29th morning has another solid 3 ft SSW swell, 16-second period, with side-offshore light breeze and energy at 641. That’s a cracking little pulse to finish on before the swell fades again into the 30th.

Ultimately, the whole first week is a write-off. But from the 23rd onward you get a run of clean days, with Friday the 25th afternoon and Saturday the 26th morning being the absolute best of the lot. Small, clean, glassy reef surfing at Pipe. You’ll be kicking yourself if you miss it.

Rusty.

Read more