
Surf Forecasts:
Sixtynine surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, W swell with 203 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Sixtynine this week:
The surf forecast for Sixtynine over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sixtynine in the next 16 days are 0.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sixtynine over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be honest—this outlook for the next 16 days is a tough one for Sixtynine. The swell window is pretty much shut for the first week, with only tiny, weak pulses showing up. We’ve got a long dry spell from Friday, July 18th, all the way through to late in the second week, with barely a ripple worth paddling for. Keep your expectations low, but hey, forecasts can always shift.
Let’s start with the little bit of action we do get. On Friday morning, July 17th, there’s a small west swell of 2 ft at 14 seconds, coming from the W direction. The combined swell energy is moderate at 203, but it’s held back by a light cross-onshore wind from the NNW at 3 mph. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for the time of year, but the wave comment says it all: “poor surf conditions.” The break is fairly exposed to the WNW, which is your optimum direction, but the wind and size just aren’t playing ball. This one’s a scratchy option at best. By Friday afternoon, the swell drops to 2 ft and the energy falls to 167, still with that same light cross-onshore wind, so no improvement.
Saturday, July 18th, sees the swell drop further to 2 ft in the morning, period 13 seconds, from the W. Energy is weak at 97, with a cross-shore breeze from the N at 6 mph. The afternoon does see a slight shift to a cross-off wind from the NE, still 6 mph, and the wave comment finally says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the best of the first few days, but with a combined energy of only 87, it’s hardly a standout. From Sunday, July 19th, right through to Thursday, July 24th, the swell just keeps shrinking, with heights dropping to 1 ft, then 1.0 ft, then 0.7 ft, and eventually flat. The wind does go glassy at times, like Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon, but with less than 1.0 ft on offer, it’s not worth suiting up.
There’s a huge gap from about Tuesday, July 22nd, through to Sunday, July 27th, with zero swell and zero energy. The wind stays light, but there’s simply nothing to ride. On Sunday, July 26th, in the afternoon, we see the faintest pulse of 0.3 ft from the W at 10 seconds, with an energy of just 2, and a gentle cross-shore wind. That’s not surf, that’s a ripple.
The end of the outlook offers a tiny glimmer, but it’s far off. On Wednesday, July 30th, in the afternoon, there’s a 0.3 ft swell from the SW at a very long 17 seconds—that’s proper groundswell period, but the height is laughable. Energy is a weak 12. Then on Thursday, July 31st, we see a small west swell of 0.7 ft in the morning, building to 1.0 ft in the afternoon, with a period of 13–14 seconds and energy climbing to 32. The wind is cross-shore from the NNE at 9 mph, keeping it messy. And into August 1st, there’s a 1.0 ft swell from the SW at 15 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore from the NW at 6 mph. Again, all flagged as “poor surf conditions.”
Honestly, mate, there’s no standout here. The whole period is a write-off for proper waves. The best you can hope for is a tiny, weak wave with marginal wind on July 18th, and maybe a slightly bigger but still tiny bump on July 31st. If you’re desperate for a paddle, you might find a knee-high ripple on one of those afternoons, but don’t expect much. This is a blank run, plain and simple.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | W 11 | NNE 5 | SSW 26 | SSW 16 | SSW 23 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
203 | 146 | 138 | 89 | 87 | 57 | 50 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:36PM0.70m | 7:32AM0.39m | 7:10PM0.61m | 8:35AM0.44m | 7:42PM0.51m | 9:42AM0.48m | 8:14PM0.41m | 10:49AM0.54m | 8:47PM0.32m | 11:51AM0.59m | 9:44PM0.25m | 12:45PM0.63m | 11:28PM0.20m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:47AM0.06m | 1:35AM0.00m | 12:43PM0.14m | 2:07AM0.01m | 1:51PM0.22m | 2:39AM0.02m | 3:21PM0.28m | 3:12AM0.03m | 5:30PM0.29m | 3:48AM0.04m | 7:48PM0.24m | 4:32AM0.04m | 8:54PM0.19m | ||||||||
5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
— | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 25 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 5 | NE 7 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NNE 5 |
59 | 76 | 57 | 75 | 91 | 62 | 43 | 47 | 33 | 37 | 42 | 33 | 37 | 17 | 38 | 10 | 36 | 17 | 11 | 58 | 26 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | NNE 5 | WNW 12 | SSW 12 | NE 7 | SSW 12 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 |
203 | 146 | 138 | 89 | 87 | 57 | 50 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 91 | 78 | 75 | 66 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | ENE 7 | SSW 11 | WNW 12 | SSW 13 | W 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 26 | SSW 16 | SSW 23 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 17 |
25 | 21 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 65 | 49 | 106 | 28 | 50 | 25 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 29 | 94 | 94 | 38 | 92 | 94 | 38 | 88 | 88 | 5 | 94 | 105 | 38 | 94 | 46 | 42 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Sixtynine Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Sixtynine provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Sixtynine can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Sixtynine 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 (Sixtynine) 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 Sixtynine 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.
Sixtynine is 84 km (52 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










