Surf Forecasts:
Polihale surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, NE swell with 188 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s 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 (Aug 30) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period. 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 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) 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 1.7m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Polihale over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it for Polihale. We’re looking at a pretty quiet stretch ahead. That northwest swell window isn't doing us any favors for the next while. The water temp is sitting at a very warm 81°, which is dead normal for this time of year, so tee shirts and boardshorts are the call.
Right now and for the next week and a half, honestly, it's flat as a tack or just tiny, poor surf. From Tuesday the 25th straight through until Monday the 31st of August, we’re looking at nothing worth paddling out for – just small weak lines. The combined swell energy is pretty much zero to barely 72, which is weak. Monday the 31st of August shows the first tiny blip: a 3ft swell from the NNE at a short period of 7 seconds. Combined energy is 72, just weak, and the commentary calls it "surfable but very ordinary". The wind is light cross-offshore, so it will be clean, but it’s just not going to be a wave you’ll remember. It's a small, weak, short-period swell, so the shape won't be there.
Then we drop back into another dead zone. From Monday the 31st all the way through to Saturday the 6th of September, there's nothing. It's glassy, but glassy flat. On Sunday the 6th of September, finally a little pulse shows up. We get 2ft from the west with a very long period of 13 seconds. The combined energy climbs to a moderate 126. That's groundswell. And that long period means it's packing more punch and better shape, but for a place like Polihale, a west swell with that long period might break a bit straight as it hits the beach. Still, it's the best we've got in the whole window. Winds are light cross-offshore, keeping it clean.
Then Monday the 7th of September offers something similar – 2.5ft from the NNW at 11 seconds, combined energy of 145, moderate. Still small, but cleaner than anything else. By Monday afternoon the wind picks up to a moderate breeze, which will mess with the texture.
So, what's the standout? That Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th of September. Those are the days. The swell isn't big – 2ft to 2.5ft – but the long period (13 seconds) means it's proper groundswell, which is rare in this forecast. The water will be glassy in the mornings. It’s small enough for beginners to handle. Just don't expect a pumping session; this is a "get a few fun ones" kind of spell. The crowds here can be a thing "sometimes," so on the best day you might have some company, but nothing crazy.
Overall, don't hold your breath for the first ten days. The surf is basically non-existent. The second week offers a couple of windows with tiny, clean, but very long-period groundswell. It's not a classic, but it's all we've got.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | S 14 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
42 | 30 | 41 | 47 | 42 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 23 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
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 | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:37PM0.65m | 2:08AM0.30m | 3:02PM0.65m | 2:47AM0.34m | 3:26PM0.63m | 3:27AM0.39m | 3:48PM0.59m | 4:09AM0.43m | 4:09PM0.55m | 4:54AM0.47m | 4:28PM0.49m | 5:44AM0.50m | 4:43PM0.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:41PM0.18m | 7:45AM0.07m | 9:54PM0.17m | 8:24AM0.09m | 10:08PM0.16m | 9:05AM0.12m | 10:23PM0.14m | 9:48AM0.16m | 10:41PM0.12m | 10:36AM0.21m | 11:00PM0.10m | 11:32AM0.27m | 11:23PM0.09m | |||||||
— | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 19 | S 16 | S 17 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | ENE 7 | S 12 | SSW 15 | NE 7 | SSW 14 | S 19 |
127 | 165 | 215 | 139 | 336 | 347 | 346 | 362 | 267 | 188 | 236 | 168 | 162 | 105 | 222 | 69 | 126 | 200 | 118 | 273 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | NW 9 | NW 9 | S 18 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | SSW 10 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | E 13 | E 12 | S 12 | SSW 16 | S 11 | SSW 15 | S 11 | S 10 |
86 | 30 | 41 | 230 | 96 | 72 | 73 | 16 | 13 | 21 | 23 | 29 | 87 | 73 | 69 | 98 | 64 | 123 | 56 | 52 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | SSW 18 | S 18 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | SSW 11 | E 16 | E 14 | E 13 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | S 11 | SSW 19 | SW 14 |
42 | 110 | 167 | 47 | 42 | 21 | 20 | 11 | 40 | 42 | 66 | 89 | 75 | 111 | 100 | 43 | 40 | 58 | 123 | 32 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | — | NE 7 | ENE 7 | — | NE 7 | ENE 7 |
163 | 127 | 114 | 106 | 97 | 86 | 70 | 73 | 70 | 83 | 89 | 92 | 153 | 158 | — | 211 | 185 | — | 206 | 279 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 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










