Polihale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the chatter and get to what matters for the next couple of weeks at Polihale.

We’ve got a real mixed bag on the horizon. The first few days are actually looking pretty sweet, with a nice consistent groundswell and glassy conditions. That’s the standout window. But then it goes very quiet for a long stretch, before a big, late-breaking pulse shows up way down the line. Let’s run through it.

The action starts Thursday, July 16th. We’ve got a lovely, long-period W swell rolling in at 3 ft with a 14-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is a solid moderate 437. The wind is glassy, near calm, with a touch of cloud cover. For a sandbar break like this, that long period can sometimes make things a bit straight, but with the swell height being modest, it should be peeling nicely. Water temp is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Friday the 17th is a carbon copy, maybe a pinch smaller at 2 ft, but still with that same 14-second period and clean, offshore/glass conditions. Saturday the 18th morning is a real drop-off, with a tiny 2 ft NNE windswell and very weak energy (29). The afternoon sees a bit of a pulse from the W, but it’s only 2 ft and the energy is still low (121). After that, it’s a long, flat grind. From Sunday the 19th all the way through to Tuesday the 28th of July, the recommendations are almost non-existent. We’re talking about a solid 9-day stretch where the swell is tiny, often non-existent, or just junk. There are a few sporadic 2 ft to 3 ft waves, but the period is short, and the energy is weak. It’s a real dead zone.

Now, the big one. On Wednesday, July 29th, we get a late-breaking bomb. The morning shows a solid 10 ft NE swell with a respectable 11-second period. The combined energy is a massive 2274, which is very strong. The wind is glassy, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the only standout in the second week, and it’s only for the brave. 10 ft at a sandbar like Polihale is a serious, expert-only wave. The afternoon settles back down to a lumpy 5 ft. The rest of the month trails off into nothing.

So, the best bet is hands-down the first window: Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th of July. The swell is clean, the period is long, and the wind is a dream. The later standout on the 29th is a monster that only the gnarliest crew should be looking at. And keep in mind, Polihale can get crowded sometimes, so get out there early for the good ones.

Rusty.

Read more