Surf Forecasts:
Polihale surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, NE swell with 363 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s 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 1.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Polihale over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this stretch isn’t giving us much to work with. For the next week and a half, it’s mostly flat and poor, with a tiny flicker of life well into the second week. If you’re hoping for a session, you’ll need to be patient and pick your moment.
The first real surf worth talking about doesn’t show up until Sunday, September 7th, so there’s a big gap of nothing from now until then. The water temp at Polihale is sitting at 81°F, which is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.
Let’s break it down. From Wednesday, August 27th, through the rest of the month, it’s a ghost town. Tiny dribbles of swell—1 ft to 2 ft from the NW, with periods around 9-10 seconds—and the combined energy is weak, around 20-47. Not worth paddling out for. Winds are light cross-off or cross, so it’s clean, but there’s simply no push. That continues through the first week of September with zeros across the board.
The only standout, and I mean the only one, comes on the morning of Sunday, September 7th. Polihale (Kauai) lights up with a 3 ft NW swell—actually from the NNW, which is close to the ideal NW direction for this spot. The period is 13 seconds, so we’re getting some proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy reads 215, which is moderate. Winds are light SSE at 6 mph, blowing cross-offshore, keeping the surf clean. The water temp anomaly is normal, so it’s comfortable. This is your best window: small but clean, and for an advanced break like this, those conditions are a rare treat. Just know that Polihale can be inconsistent, and crowds are possible here, so get in early.
The afternoon of the 7th keeps a similar 3 ft NNW swell with a 12-second period, but the wind swings to light SSE offshore, still decent. Energy drops a little to 196. It’s surfable, but the morning is the pick.
After that, Monday the 8th sees a mix—morning has a tiny 1 ft NNW swell, but the afternoon brings a bump to 4 ft from the NE, period 8 seconds, energy 230. That’s a bit more size, but the short period means it’s a bit junky and likely better suited to experienced surfers. The wind is light cross-off, so it’s clean enough.
The rest of the forecast into the second week (September 9th-10th) is back to small, marginal stuff—1 ft to 2 ft swells with weak energy, mostly under 145. Not worth chasing.
To wrap it up: the one clear standout is the morning of Sunday, September 7th at Polihale. That’s your shot. Bring patience, and don’t expect much else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNE 7 | S 15 | S 14 | NNE 6 | S 13 | N 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
47 | 42 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 346 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:43AM0.52m | 4:48PM0.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:52PM0.32m | 11:51PM0.08m | |||||||
— | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 19 | S 16 | S 17 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | ENE 7 | S 12 | ENE 7 | SSW 15 | ENE 7 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | NE 8 |
139 | 336 | 347 | 346 | 362 | 267 | 188 | 236 | 168 | 162 | 186 | 69 | 215 | 126 | 243 | 116 | 334 | 374 | 402 | 346 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | NNE 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | NNE 6 | E 13 | E 13 | S 12 | SSW 16 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 15 | S 11 | S 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | S 17 |
230 | 96 | 72 | 73 | 16 | 40 | 21 | 23 | 89 | 87 | 105 | 100 | 69 | 66 | 125 | 57 | 273 | 333 | 329 | 287 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | E 16 | E 16 | E 14 | SSW 18 | N 6 | E 12 | E 12 | SSW 16 | E 11 | S 11 | ENE 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 10 |
47 | 42 | 21 | 20 | 11 | 45 | 42 | 66 | 62 | 18 | 73 | 44 | 97 | 21 | 58 | 33 | 53 | 31 | 44 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | — | ENE 7 | — | ENE 7 | — | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — |
111 | 111 | 92 | 73 | 73 | 80 | 99 | 68 | 121 | 121 | — | 228 | — | 185 | — | 330 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
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










