Polihale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break this down in feet and miles per hour.

We’re looking at Polihale, a sandbar spot. The water temp is about 81°F, which is pretty average for the time of year, nothing weird going on.

The first week is a total bust. From Saturday, August 29th, through Thursday, September 3rd, it’s flat. Zero energy. The wind is light and cross-offshore, which would be nice if there were any waves, but there aren’t. It’s just clean, flat water.

We get a tiny pulse on Friday, September 4th. The morning has a 2 ft swell from the north with an 8-second period, but the energy is only 29 (weak). The afternoon picks up to a 5 ft swell from the northeast, but it’s a short-period windswell at 7 seconds, with energy at 257 (moderate). It’s surfable, but that short period means it’ll be a bit messy.

Then it’s back to flat and blown out. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th have moderate to fresh breezes and a tiny 0.7 ft swell from the WNW that’s basically nothing. Monday the 7th is flat.

Things get a little more interesting around the 8th. Tuesday morning has a 1 ft swell from the NNW with a 12-second period (groundswell), but the energy is only 53 (weak) and the wind is cross-shore. The afternoon shows a 5 ft NE swell at 8 seconds with 277 energy (moderate), but it’s marginal.

From Wednesday, September 9th, through Sunday, the 13th, we get a steady run of small, long-period groundswells from the west with periods of 13 to 14 seconds. The heights are only 2 ft to 2 ft, so it’s tiny. The combined energy is in the 100–148 range (moderate). The winds are mostly light and cross-offshore, and on the 12th it’s glassy. That’s a big positive for clean conditions. This is the best we’ve got. Because it’s a long-period groundswell (over 11 seconds), the waves will have better shape and more push, but the long lulls mean you’ll be waiting. At a sandbar like Polihale, it might break a bit straight, but it’s still surfable.

The absolute best window is Saturday, September 12th. The morning and afternoon are glassy, with a 2 ft west swell at 14 seconds and combined energy around 144–148 (moderate). It’s clean, small, and mellow. Crowds are only “sometimes” an issue, so it’s a good bet for a quiet session.

Overall, this is a tough outlook. The first week is a total flat gap. The second week offers some small, clean groundswell, but nothing to get fired up about. If you’re itching to get wet, the 12th is your best shot.

Rusty.

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