Surf Forecasts:
Polihale surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, W swell with 75 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with WNW 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s 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 0.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Polihale over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let’s have a look at the surf outlook for Polihale.
Mate, I’m not gonna lie, this is a tough run. For a spot that’s exposed to a northwesterly swell and usually picks up something, the next 16 days look really, really quiet. We’ve got a massive gap straight up, with no real surf to speak of for the first week. The first sign of anything even slightly worthwhile doesn’t show up until Wednesday the 19th of August, which is a long wait for a wave. And even then, it’s not much.
Alright, let’s work through it. From now through most of the second week, it’s all tiny dribble. We start off on Wednesday the 12th with a glassy morning but absolutely zero rideable swell—the combined energy is a flat 0, and the rest of the week is just 1 ft to 1 ft of weak, messy stuff. Winds stay light and variable, mostly cross-off or glassy, which is about the only positive, but with no height, it’s a flat spell. The crowd factor is "sometimes" at Polihale, but nobody will be out when there's nothing to ride.
The pattern doesn't break until the afternoon of Wednesday the 19th of August. We finally get a pulse of 3 ft swell from the NE, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it's barely got any push. The combined energy reads 94, which is still weak. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and honestly, that’s a generous description for a 3 ft, short-period wave. Thursday the 20th morning is similar with 3 ft from the NE at a 7-second period (62 energy), and it stays cross-off with light winds, so you could scrape a few knee-high lumps out of it if you’re desperate.
After that, it’s back to the flat and weak stuff right through until Thursday the 27th of August. On that morning and afternoon, we get another little bump: 2 ft from the W with a 12-second period (71 energy), which is longer-period and a bit cleaner, but it’s still tiny. The winds are light cross-off, so the surface will be tidy, but with height that small, it’s really just ankle-to-knee-high slosh.
So, the standout? There isn't one, really. The best of a very ordinary bunch is the 3 ft NE swell on the afternoon of Wednesday the 19th, just because it’s the biggest wave in the 16-day window. But with a 6-second period and weak energy (94), it’s going to be crumbly and weak, and it’s only suitable for a longboard if you’re just wanting to paddle around. No one’s scoring barrels here.
As for the water, when we first consider Polihale on the 12th, the temperature is 81°F with a +0.7°F anomaly, so it’s basically average for the time of year—no surprises there.
It’s a lean forecast, folks. I’d be checking back in about 10 days to see if things shift, because right now, the surf cupboard is bare.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Sat morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | S 18 | WNW 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 13 | W 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 56 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 12 | 12 | 34 | 75 | 47 | 42 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 49 | 48 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:48PM0.72m | 3:40AM0.35m | 4:18PM0.67m | 4:31AM0.39m | 4:45PM0.60m | 5:23AM0.42m | 5:07PM0.53m | 6:19AM0.45m | 5:22PM0.46m | 7:21AM0.47m | 5:22PM0.40m | 8:38AM0.49m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 8:27AM0.03m | 10:45PM0.15m | 9:15AM0.07m | 11:07PM0.14m | 10:02AM0.13m | 11:28PM0.13m | 10:51AM0.20m | 11:49PM0.12m | 11:46AM0.27m | 00:11AM0.12m | 12:59PM0.33m | 00:34AM0.12m | 1:02AM0.13m | ||||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 |
218 | 620 | 526 | 868 | 683 | 524 | 510 | 411 | 320 | 225 | 222 | 165 | 109 | 78 | 119 | 536 | 384 | 204 | 121 | 121 | 116 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | NNW 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | WNW 13 | W 12 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 | S 12 | S 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 |
68 | 218 | 218 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 12 | 40 | 50 | 34 | 75 | 95 | 127 | 124 | 264 | 100 | 191 | 57 | 49 | 48 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | WNW 12 | W 12 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | W 11 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | S 18 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SSW 18 |
418 | 56 | 25 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 57 | 47 | 42 | 40 | 11 | 24 | 18 | 75 | 80 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | — | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
— | 86 | 96 | 90 | 113 | 144 | 208 | 250 | 291 | 450 | 755 | 1012 | 1102 | 1772 | 1126 | 727 | 513 | — | 163 | 135 | 108 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 275 | 170 | 169 | 170 | 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










