Surf Forecasts:
Rockpiles surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, E swell with 5,677 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rockpiles this week:
The surf forecast for Rockpiles over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rockpiles in the next 16 days are 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) 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 1.0m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockpiles over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me get this straight. To be honest, the first week and a half of this forecast window is a real struggle. Big, messy, storm-churned swell and strong winds at Rockpiles are making for a pretty grim outlook right now. From Saturday the 15th, we've got a massive 13.1ft swell from the east-northeast, but with a howling 31 mph wind, it's a complete write-off. That kind of energy (2667) is just raw power with no finesse. It isn't until Monday the 17th that we see a bit of a drop, but it's still not worth paddling out for.
There’s a long, frustrating gap where nothing is really offering any quality. We're talking small, weak swells with periods under 10 seconds, or these long-period south swells that are just too inconsistent and weak to do anything with the clean but strong cross-offshore winds. It stays like this for days. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.
Then, we start to see a glimmer of hope building right at the very end. The last three or four days of August start looking more interesting. The real standout, and the only one I’d get properly excited about, is the morning of Saturday the 30th of August. Rockpiles is looking at a solid 9.8ft swell from the east-northeast with a decent 14-second period, and the energy is pumping hard at (3591). The wind is a clean cross-offshore at 16 mph, which should keep the faces nice and lined up. This one is only for experienced surfers though – that’s big, powerful surf for a reef break.
Before that, the sessions on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th of August are worth a mention as the next best thing. The swell is hanging around 4.3ft to 5.2ft from the east with a very long 17-second period, and the winds stay clean. That long period will make it a bit top-to-bottom and sucky on the reef, so it won't be a cruisy wave, but there will be some proper energy there for the crew who know what they're doing.
So, you pay your dues with a lot of flat, windy, or messy days, but there's a real pulse building for the final weekend. Mark the 30th on your calendar, but keep an eye on the forecasts as we get closer. It's a long way out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (gales from the ENE on Sat night, light winds from the ENE by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 14 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
952 | 2430 | 3286 | 5677 | 993 | 692 | 449 | 300 | 260 | 173 | 165 | 121 | 143 | 163 | 84 | 129 | 207 | 200 | 274 | |
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-on | cross-on | 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 |
High Tide | 6:06AM0.44m | 5:54PM0.53m | 6:57AM0.47m | 6:24PM0.45m | 7:54AM0.49m | 6:52PM0.37m | 8:59AM0.51m | 7:16PM0.30m | 10:13AM0.53m | 11:25AM0.56m | 10:11PM0.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:03AM0.04m | 11:43AM0.14m | 00:30AM0.05m | 12:43PM0.20m | 00:58AM0.06m | 1:59PM0.25m | 1:27AM0.08m | 3:56PM0.27m | 2:01AM0.10m | 2:47AM0.12m | 8:27PM0.20m | ||||||||
— | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
7:01 | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 14 | SSE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 17 | ENE 7 |
243 | 225 | 168 | 184 | 592 | 692 | 449 | 264 | 260 | 170 | 165 | 119 | 80 | 163 | 84 | 82 | 78 | 200 | 157 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | S 16 | S 18 | S 16 | SSE 8 | S 7 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SSE 7 | SW 16 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 18 | S 11 | SW 16 |
9 | 9 | 80 | 56 | 188 | 302 | 92 | 48 | 13 | 5 | 74 | 80 | 15 | 129 | 42 | 34 | 207 | 21 | 274 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SW 17 | W 13 | W 13 | SSW 13 | S 10 | S 14 | SW 18 | SSE 6 | W 11 | SW 7 | SSE 8 | SW 18 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | S 11 | SSW 8 | S 15 |
30 | 12 | 30 | 30 | 53 | 75 | 250 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 79 | 44 | 48 | 129 | 22 | 6 | 38 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 9 | — | — | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | — | — | — | NE 6 | ENE 7 | — |
952 | 2430 | 3286 | 5677 | 993 | — | — | 300 | 231 | 173 | 141 | 121 | 143 | — | — | — | 43 | 121 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 200 | 200 | 200 | 209 | 45 | 45 | 3 | 31 | 2 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rockpiles Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rockpiles provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rockpiles can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rockpiles 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 (Rockpiles) 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 Rockpiles 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.
Rockpiles is 4 km (2 miles) from Honolulu. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in Honolulu. Honolulu has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











