Royal Palms State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day. Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – I’ve had a good look at the next couple of weeks, and it’s not exactly firing. We’re looking at a real flat spell for the most part, but there are a couple of windows where you might find something if you’re keen.

We’re starting off with a bit of a dud. There’s just no real energy in the water to write home about. The first week is looking pretty gutless, with wave heights hanging around the 1 to 3 ft mark. The energy readings are weak to moderate at best, with numbers like 94 and 122 popping up – that’s not enough to get anyone excited. It’s mostly that small, weak south-southwest swell, and with onshore or cross-onshore breezes, it’s going to be messy. The water’s running warm, about 5°F above normal for this time of year, which is notable. It’s about the only thing that’s notable.

The forecast says “poor surf conditions” right through this period, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Early on, like Sunday the 17th, we’ve got light winds, but the swell is just too small and weak to do anything with. The swell period is around 14 seconds, which is okay, but with that tiny height, it’s a non-event. As we go into the middle of the week, things drop off even more. By the 22nd, we’re looking at 1 ft. It’s flat. The combined energy drops into the double digits then, like 94 – that’s barely a ripple.

There’s a slight bump in period to 18 or 19 seconds by Sunday the 24th, but the height stays pitiful. This is that long-period energy that would be great if there was any size behind it, but there isn’t. The point and reef at Royal Palms (Big Island) is sheltered, but that won’t save it from a flat spell. It’s also listed as inconsistent, which is about right for this kind of setup.

The second week doesn’t offer much more hope until the tail end. We’re looking at a gap of several days with nothing worthwhile. It’s not until around Friday the 29th that we see a little more push, with heights getting up to 3 ft. The energy readings jump into the 300s – still moderate, but a step up from what we’ve had. The period drops back to a more average 16 seconds, and the swell direction is still from the south-southwest.

The best of the bunch looks like it’ll be early on Saturday the 30th and then again on Monday the 1st of September. We’re still talking small waves, around 2 to 3 ft, but with light winds and that longer period, it might be clean enough for a fun, small-wave session on the point. Don’t expect anything epic, but if you’re desperate, that’s where you want to be. The wind on Saturday morning is light and cross-onshore, which will keep it a bit bumpy, but the energy is there. The Monday morning looks similar, with light breezes and a bit more consistency. These are the pick of a pretty ordinary bunch.

So, bottom line – it’s a lean couple of weeks. Nothing here is going to scare anyone. If you’ve got a longboard, the very end of the period might offer a couple of slow, small waves. Otherwise, give it a miss. The forecasts can change, and it tends not to stay this poor for long, so don’t lose hope.

Rusty out.

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