Tankers Surf Break

Lat Long: 21.30° N 158.06° W

Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tankers sea temperature is
26.5° C
0.3° 

Tankers surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Tankers surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 21s period, SSW swell with 607 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 18s 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 (Jul 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 18s 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 0.9m 21s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Mon 20th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 18s
Best Surf 8AM (Tue 21st Jul)3ft (0.9m) 14s
Most Powerful 8AM (Thu 23rd Jul)3ft (0.9m) 21s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tankers over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about this 16-day stretch ahead. It’s a bit of a slow burn, to be honest. We’re looking at a long run of marginal, super small surf, and for the first several days, there’s almost nothing worth getting excited about. The energy is there, but the conditions are just off. The real standout action doesn’t show up until the last week of the month, and even then, it’s not firing on all cylinders.

We start off on Thursday, July 16th, with Tankers showing a weak 3ft swell from the west, but it’s cross-shore wind and the surf is just poor. That same story continues right through the weekend and into the start of the following week. The swell direction swings around, but the size stays tiny, mostly between 2ft and 4ft, and the wind is never quite right. The wave energy is moderate, reading around 417, but the whole package is a no-go for a proper paddle. By Friday the 17th, the wind turns slightly cross-offshore and the surf cleans up, but it’s still only 2ft to 3ft, so it’s marginal at best. This carries on through the 20th and 21st, with the swell picking up to 3ft from the south, but the offshore wind is just not clean enough to make it truly fun. The combined energy climbs into the 500 and 600 range, but it’s still not clicking.

You’ll notice a gap of real quality. The mornings are often cross-shore and choppy, and the afternoons, while cleaner, are still too small. It’s a tough run.

Then, around Wednesday, July 22nd, something shifts. The swell jumps to 4ft from the east in the morning, but the cross-shore wind kills it. The afternoon brings a weird spike: a 2ft swell from the SSW with a seriously long period of 23 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, and the energy jumps to 1034, which is getting into the strong range. But that super long period can be tricky at a reef break like Tankers – it might wrap in a bit too straight and fat. The wind is fresh cross-shore, so it’s lumpy. Not the best.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, starts to build on Thursday, July 24th. The morning is still small at 2ft, but the afternoon pumps up to 3ft from the SSW, with a period of 17 seconds, and the wind is cross-offshore and clean. The energy is a solid 1117. This is the best window so far. The morning of July 25th is even better, with a 3ft swell from the south, a 20-second period, and a massive energy reading of 1126. That’s strong. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean. This is your best bet for the first half of the forecast. The water temp is sitting at a warm 80°, which is pretty much average for the time of year, so no need to overthink the wetsuit.

The quality keeps rolling into the morning of Sunday, July 26th, with a 4ft SSW swell, 18-second period, and an energy reading of 1758. That’s very strong energy. The wind is clean. The only caveat is that the swell direction is from the SSW, and Tankers prefers an optimum direction from the south. It’s not a perfect match, but the energy and clean wind will still make it a fun, punchy wave. The next morning, July 27th, is the best of the whole forecast. You’ve got a 4ft swell from the east, a 16-second period, and a combined energy of 1240. The wind is a moderate cross-offshore breeze, keeping it clean. This is the standout. It’s a good size for a reef break, with enough period to give it some shape. The crowds at Tankers are often a problem, so expect company.

After that, the energy drops off fast. By Tuesday, July 28th, the swell plummets to 2ft, and the wind goes light and cross-shore, making it a bit rippled. The last few days of the month and into the 31st are tiny, with swells barely 2ft to 2ft, and the energy is weak. The season is winding down.

So, the two standout sessions are the morning of July 25th and the morning of July 27th. The 27th is the best overall, with the biggest swell, solid energy, and clean wind. The 25th is a close second. The rest of the two weeks is a slog, with a lot of small, marginal surf or poor conditions.

Stay patient, and mark your calendar for the 27th.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
2
1
2
2
0
1
3
1
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
W
14
0.8
W
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
14
1.3
E
8
1.2
E
8
1.2
E
8
0.5
S
18
0.6
S
16
0.9
S
16
0.9
S
15
0.9
S
14
0.9
S
14
1
S
13
1.1
E
13
0.6
SSW
23
0.7
SSW
22
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
268
264
264
223
284
192
187
210
217
187
190
157
193
407
343
329
311
342
404
426
480
Wind (km/h)
20
E
20
E
20
ENE
20
E
30
E
25
ENE
25
E
30
ENE
25
ENE
20
ENE
25
ENE
15
ENE
20
ENE
25
E
10
NE
20
E
25
ENE
15
ENE
25
E
25
E
20
ENE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
5:41PM0.77m
6:08AM0.38m
6:14PM0.69m
7:09AM0.42m
6:44PM0.60m
8:16AM0.46m
7:10PM0.51m
9:31AM0.50m
7:31PM0.43m
10:46AM0.54m
7:33PM0.36m
11:52AM0.59m
Low Tide
10:31AM0.06m
00:44AM0.11m
11:21AM0.14m
1:14AM0.10m
12:16PM0.22m
1:44AM0.11m
1:23PM0.30m
2:15AM0.11m
3:02PM0.36m
2:48AM0.12m
6:02PM0.36m
3:27AM0.12m
4:16AM0.12m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:16
7:15
7:15
7:15
7:15
7:15
7:15
 mm
Temp °C
26
27
25
26
27
25
27
27
25
26
27
25
26
27
25
26
27
25
26
27
25
Feels °C
26
26
25
26
25
24
25
24
23
26
25
24
25
25
23
25
26
24
25
25
23
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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