Surf Forecasts:
Polihale surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, NE swell with 269 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Polihale this week:
The surf forecast for Polihale over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Polihale in the next 16 days are 1.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Polihale over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, crew, Rusty here. Let’s break down what Polihale is looking like. Water’s about average for the season at 80°F, so no drama there.
The first week and a half is a slow grind. From Sunday the 13th right through Thursday the 18th, we’ve got tiny, weak surf. You’ll see waves from 3ft to 3ft out of the northeast, but the energy is low (combined energy in the low hundreds at best). Winds aren’t bad – some glassy mornings and light cross-off breezes – but the waves just don’t have any punch. It’s a flat spell for the most part, with a lot of days where the swell is basically a non-event.
From Wednesday afternoon the 16th all the way to Thursday the 24th, it’s a barren stretch. Swell heights drop to near zero or just a foot or so from all sorts of directions (WNW, SW), and the energy is mostly below 100. Not worth paddling out for.
Then it flips. On Friday the 25th, a real groundswell arrives. The morning is the clear winner: a clean 3ft swell from the WNW with a very long period of 22 seconds. Combined energy jumps to 732 – strong stuff. That kind of period means proper, powerful waves with long gaps between sets. With light cross-off wind from the ENE, it’ll be clean and lined up. This is the best session of the whole outlook. Only for the experienced.
Saturday the 26th keeps the power going: 5ft from the WNW with a 17-second period in the morning. Energy hits over 1000 (1043). That’s big, serious surf – experts only. Light cross-off winds keep it clean, making for a raw, powerful day.
Sunday the 27th is still solid, dropping to 4ft from the NW, periods still long at 13 seconds. Energy remains high (406-362). Clean with light east winds. Good waves for those who can handle it.
By Monday the 28th, it’s back to small and ordinary, 2ft to 2ft and fading.
Bottom line: it’s a flat, frustrating start, but there’s a late burst of proper, powerful swell from the 25th to the 27th. The Friday the 25th morning is the one to circle on the calendar.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 7 | SW 18 | NE 8 | SW 10 | ENE 7 | NW 11 | WNW 9 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 112 | 149 | 139 | 82 | 95 | 107 | 119 | 39 | 89 | 0 | 192 | 15 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 68 | 50 | 36 | 23 | 24 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:12PM0.42m | 5:42AM0.55m | 4:21PM0.37m | 6:31AM0.55m | 4:06PM0.33m | 7:32AM0.53m | 8:53AM0.52m | 10:22AM0.53m | 11:29AM0.54m | 11:14PM0.20m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 10:33PM0.09m | 12:04PM0.28m | 10:52PM0.10m | 1:33PM0.31m | 11:13PM0.11m | 11:36PM0.12m | 00:08AM0.14m | 1:19AM0.16m | 8:57PM0.20m | |||||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SSW 19 | ENE 5 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 112 | 149 | 139 | 82 | 95 | 107 | 251 | 32 | 273 | 316 | 190 | 169 | 171 | 399 | 373 | 427 | 133 | 156 | 157 | 165 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 12 | SSW 19 | E 11 | E 10 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | NW 11 | WNW 9 | NNE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 41 | 51 | 49 | 119 | 117 | 256 | 29 | 246 | 37 | 33 | 86 | 149 | 148 | 19 | 8 | 68 | 326 | 259 | 273 | 273 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | WNW 12 | SSW 23 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | E 12 | NNE 8 | WNW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 |
| kJ | 54 | 14 | 54 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 26 | 39 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 50 | 36 | 23 | 24 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ENE 4 | E 5 | ENE 5 | NE 8 | — | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 6 | 15 | 36 | 119 | — | 89 | 80 | 192 | 202 | 282 | 336 | 303 | 230 | — | 219 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 36 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaua'i | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Polihale Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Polihale provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Polihale can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Polihale 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 (Polihale) 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 Polihale 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.
Are you planning a vacation in Kaua'i? If you are looking for accommodation near Polihale, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in Kaua'i, consider staying in Nawiliwili which is 43 km (27 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Lihue - Kauai which is 45 km (28 miles) away
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