Surf Forecasts:
Tankers surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SSE swell with 700 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tankers this week:
The surf forecast for Tankers over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tankers in the next 16 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tankers over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s break down what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks.
Right now, we’ve got a stormy Sunday the 16th with a messy 10 ft swell from the SSE and strong cross-onshore winds – not worth paddling out. That clears out fast, and from Monday the 17th we’re into a long run of small, clean but marginal surf. Swell drops to around 3-3 ft from the south and southwest, with light to moderate offshore winds from the east-northeast. The period is long, around 13-16 seconds, which gives the waves some shape but not much push. Water temp is 81°, right about average for this time of year.
There’s a solid window mid-week, Thursday the 20th, where it goes glassy – zero wind in the morning, then just a whisper from the SSE. Swell is only 2 ft from the southwest, but with an 18-second period, every little bump will have some juice. If you’re on a longboard or a fish, that’s your window. Combined energy is moderate (413).
The rest of the first week stays small and clean, with wind staying light or offshore. The 22nd (Saturday) also shapes up nicely with glassy conditions again and 3 ft from the SSW, period around 16 seconds. Could be a fun little morning session.
Now, looking further out, things start to build from the east around the 24th-25th. Swell picks up, but it’s short-period windswell for the most part – 8 seconds. That’s not going to make Tankers shine, plus the wind stays cross-offshore and fresh, so it’s clean but lumpy and weak. Combined energy around 386-522.
The standout arrives around Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th of August. Swell from the east builds to 7 ft on Thursday morning, then 12 ft on Friday morning, period 9-10 seconds. The wind stays cross-offshore from the east-northeast at 15-22 mph. This is big, powerful surf with combined energy over 2000 – that’s a serious push. But with that size (over 8 ft), it’s pretty much for experts only. At a reef break like Tankers, the east wind is offshore, so it’ll be clean and hollow, but the short period means it’ll be a bit sectiony and fast. Not a beginner’s day.
The 29th drops back to 5-5 ft, still clean but fading. After that, it’s back to small southwest groundswell with fresh cross-offshore winds, nothing special.
Best bets: Thursday 20th and Saturday 22nd for small clean glassy fun, or if you’re an experienced surfer, Thursday 27th and Friday 28th for big, clean, powerful waves – but only if you’ve got the skills.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 27°C on Sun night, min 25°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (gales from the ESE on Sun morning, light winds from the ENE by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | SSE 8 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1432 | 700 | 315 | 334 | 329 | 222 | 215 | 127 | 158 | 129 | 125 | 175 | 316 | 305 | 347 | 364 | 326 | 367 | 326 | 314 | 245 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:53PM0.51m | 7:23AM0.54m | 6:10PM0.44m | 8:25AM0.55m | 6:13PM0.37m | 9:42AM0.56m | 11:04AM0.57m | 12:12PM0.60m | 11:03PM0.23m | 1:02PM0.64m | 00:38AM0.25m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 12:13PM0.25m | 00:28AM0.10m | 1:18PM0.31m | 00:54AM0.11m | 2:59PM0.34m | 1:23AM0.13m | 2:04AM0.14m | 3:11AM0.15m | 9:15PM0.23m | 9:01PM0.20m | |||||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — | |
mm | 31 | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 19 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 14 | S 13 | E 7 | S 13 | S 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | E 7 | E 7 |
1432 | 468 | 264 | 149 | 329 | 222 | 79 | 119 | 158 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 57 | 54 | 347 | 364 | 326 | 367 | 326 | 83 | 89 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | E 9 | S 7 | S 14 | SW 6 | SW 6 | S 13 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 12 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
190 | 517 | 134 | 334 | 17 | 8 | 215 | 123 | 79 | 129 | 71 | 175 | 316 | 305 | 43 | 26 | 21 | 20 | 54 | 314 | 245 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 13 | S 14 | S 6 | SSE 6 | WSW 6 | SSW 17 | SSE 7 | WNW 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | E 8 | NE 7 | S 13 | S 14 | S 12 | E 8 |
112 | 212 | 315 | 44 | 12 | 8 | 115 | 21 | 28 | 44 | 125 | 45 | 40 | 39 | 22 | 21 | 14 | 55 | 107 | 47 | 34 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
1229 | 700 | 217 | 250 | 159 | 127 | 149 | 127 | 127 | 31 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 83 | 88 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 255 | 33 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Tankers Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tankers provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tankers can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tankers 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 (Tankers) 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 Tankers 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.
Tankers is 5 km (3 miles) from Makakilo City. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in Makakilo City. Makakilo City has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











