
Surf Forecasts:
Polihale surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, NE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, NE swell with 1,055 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m 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 2.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 12s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Polihale over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ on the west side.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are lookin’ pretty lean for Polihale. This exposed sandbar is gonna see a stretch of very ordinary waves, and a whole lotta flat spells in between. The water temp is sittin' right around average for the time of year at 80°F, so nothin' wild there.
We start off with a big ol' gap. There's no real surf on offer until the afternoon of Saturday the 25th of July. That first bump is a weak 6 ft NE swell with a short 8 second period, and it’s got moderate energy (434). The wind is cross-off from the ENE at 9 mph, which will keep the surface clean enough, but the swell direction is NE and this spot really wants it from the NW. It’s a marginal call, maybe a few scruffy ones for the patient.
Sunday the 26th of July picks up a little. We’ve got a 6 ft NE swell in the morning, droppin’ to 5 ft by the afternoon, still with that short 8 second period. Energy is moderate (353 and 291). Wind stays light cross-off from the E at 6-9 mph. Conditions are clean, and the data says “expect good surf conditions,” but honestly, it’s not the right direction. It’s surfable, but it’s not classic Polihale. This is likely the most consistent couple of sessions in the whole run, so if you’re keen, that Sunday morning window is your best bet for a few clean, if a little weak, waves.
Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of July see the swell drop fast. Monday morning has a tiny 5 ft NE swell with a poor 7 second period and weak energy (217). Winds go light cross-shore, but the energy is gone. This is really for beginners only, and even then it’s marginal. Tuesday the 28th is basically flat by the afternoon.
Then we hit a long, dry spell. From Wednesday the 29th of July right through to Saturday the 8th of August, the pickin’s are slim. You get a few scraps – a tiny 2 ft SW groundswell with a 16 second period on the 31st of July (energy 143), but it’s barely surfable. Winds are mostly moderate cross-off at 12 mph. That long period will make it line up weird on a sandbar like this, too. Not worth paddlin' out for.
There’s another big gap of flat or tiny junk after that until Sunday the 9th of August. That morning, a tiny 2 ft W swell with a long 12 second period pushes the energy up a notch to 69, and the wind is light cross-off from the SSW. The data calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” I’d call it a last gasp. By the afternoon, the wind swings cross-on from the WSW at 6 mph, and a 3 ft NE windswell pops up with weak energy (132), but it’s gonna be choppy and messy.
The Bottom Line: There’s no true standout here. If you have to paddle out, Sunday the 26th of July morning is your only real window for clean, semi-consistent 5-6 ft surf at Polihale, but the direction is all wrong for this spot. Expect a lot of flat days in between.
Stay patient, keep an eye on the sky, and don’t force it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 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) | NE 8 | SSW 18 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 15 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 13 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 10 | N 7 | ENE 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
434 | 0 | 353 | 291 | 0 | 217 | 217 | 109 | 131 | 0 | 154 | 126 | 62 | 1055 | 59 | 0 | 129 | 124 | 112 | 106 | |
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 | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:09PM0.64m | 00:30AM0.22m | 2:42PM0.66m | 1:22AM0.23m | 3:12PM0.68m | 2:05AM0.25m | 3:41PM0.68m | 2:46AM0.27m | 4:08PM0.68m | 3:29AM0.29m | 4:33PM0.66m | 4:15AM0.31m | 4:55PM0.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:24PM0.22m | 6:34AM0.06m | 10:30PM0.21m | 7:16AM0.04m | 10:44PM0.20m | 7:55AM0.04m | 11:01PM0.20m | 8:31AM0.04m | 11:18PM0.19m | 9:06AM0.07m | 11:36PM0.18m | 9:42AM0.11m | 11:54PM0.17m | |||||||
— | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 28 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | NE 8 | NE 7 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | S 13 | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 12 | NE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 12 | E 15 |
595 | 516 | 367 | 341 | 229 | 217 | 363 | 413 | 888 | 92 | 1218 | 1136 | 1715 | 1055 | 329 | 306 | 192 | 207 | 104 | 150 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | E 13 | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | SSW 15 | NE 7 | S 14 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | N 7 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
41 | 54 | 68 | 228 | 343 | 401 | 222 | 109 | 132 | 46 | 140 | 206 | 203 | 179 | 59 | 168 | 156 | 106 | 112 | 106 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | S 11 | E 12 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 10 | S 14 | S 10 | S 10 | S 16 | SW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | S 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | E 15 | S 12 |
34 | 37 | 26 | 20 | 337 | 228 | 8 | 203 | 7 | 7 | 46 | 17 | 37 | 37 | 171 | 79 | 129 | 124 | 107 | 67 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | — | — | NE 7 | E 7 | NE 7 | ENE 13 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 | — | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
434 | 388 | 353 | 291 | — | — | 217 | 70 | 131 | 1725 | 154 | 126 | 62 | — | 5 | 5 | — | 294 | 238 | 253 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 24 | 36 | 8 | 8 | 166 | 171 |
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









