
Surf Forecasts:
Polihale surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, WNW swell with 57 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Polihale this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Polihale in the next 16 days are 0.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) 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 1.6m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Polihale over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I'm looking at the charts for the stretch ahead. Let me tell you, it's a bit of a slow burn for the next week and a half. We're in for a long, quiet spell, so don't be in a rush.
Polihale is the only break on the radar here, and for the first ten days, it's mostly a waiting game. From Friday the 7th right through to the morning of Monday the 17th, it's just ankle-biters or flat spells. The combined wave energy is tiny, barely ticking over in the single digits or low twenties. The water's sitting at a warm 81°F this time of year, which is pretty much bang on average for the season, so at least the swim will be nice. We're looking at a solid 10-day gap of nothing surfable.
Things finally start to stir on Monday the 17th. The swell picks up a little, with a WNW groundswell pushing in at about 1 ft. The period jumps up to 15-16 seconds, which is a proper long-period groundswell. The combined energy climbs to 89 on Monday, but it's still just "surfable but ordinary." The wind is cross-off from the east, so it's clean, but the size is just too small to get excited about.
The real standout, the only window that gets my heart pumping, is the afternoon of Wednesday the 19th. That's the one to circle. We get a sudden spike of energy: a 4 ft NE swell blasting in with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy hits 228, which is moderate and actually has some push. The best part? The wind goes glassy, dead calm from the east. For Polihale, that's a recipe for the cleanest, most fun waves of the whole run. It's not huge, so it's fine for all levels, but those little glassy peaks will be a ton of fun. Keep in mind, this is a longer-range call, so it's promising but not locked in just yet.
After that, it fades back down to knee-high slop with a side-shore breeze, so don't expect much on the 20th or beyond.
So, the pick of the bunch? Wednesday afternoon the 19th at Polihale. That's the one. The rest of the time, you're better off taking the board for a paddle or just hanging on the beach.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 7 | SW 19 | N 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | W 10 | SSW 15 | W 11 | WNW 13 | W 12 | WNW 12 | W 12 | WNW 12 | W 11 | W 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 29 | 26 | 22 | 17 | 0 | 20 | 57 | 25 | 47 | 25 | 28 | 23 | 24 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:13PM0.70m | 11:25PM0.21m | 1:58PM0.74m | 00:55AM0.23m | 2:38PM0.75m | 1:56AM0.26m | 3:15PM0.75m | 2:49AM0.30m | 3:48PM0.72m | 3:40AM0.35m | 4:18PM0.67m | 4:31AM0.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:35AM0.05m | 9:50PM0.21m | 5:44AM0.02m | 9:47PM0.19m | 6:44AM0.01m | 10:03PM0.17m | 7:37AM0.01m | 10:23PM0.16m | 8:27AM0.03m | 10:45PM0.15m | 9:15AM0.07m | 11:07PM0.14m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | ENE 7 | SSW 14 | E 6 | SSW 13 | ENE 7 | SSW 12 | ENE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 |
95 | 46 | 115 | 20 | 99 | 132 | 86 | 111 | 198 | 179 | 234 | 131 | 160 | 243 | 218 | 620 | 526 | 743 | 683 | 517 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | NNW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 11 | S 20 | S 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 12 | W 11 | W 12 |
9 | 46 | 84 | 44 | 77 | 98 | 102 | 198 | 48 | 46 | 12 | 167 | 41 | 268 | 418 | 218 | 168 | 28 | 23 | 24 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SW 19 | N 6 | NE 10 | NE 10 | SW 16 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | W 10 | SSW 11 | W 11 | WNW 13 | W 12 | WNW 12 | W 12 | S 19 | NW 7 | NNW 7 |
20 | 95 | 7 | 25 | 23 | 68 | 34 | 29 | 26 | 22 | 17 | 23 | 20 | 57 | 25 | 47 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | — | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | — | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
72 | — | 62 | 70 | 93 | 166 | 139 | — | 176 | 147 | 143 | — | 109 | 106 | 118 | 114 | 113 | 124 | 149 | 183 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 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










