Surf Forecasts:
Tankers surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, E swell with 1,575 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tankers this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tankers in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tankers over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the surf in the Tankers region. The next 16 days are a mixed bag, and I’ll be straight with you – there are a couple of windows worth getting excited about, but you’ll need patience. Swell energy ranges from moderate (e.g. 522) up to very strong (e.g. 1314), but the wind is often the spoiler here.
Starting off on Sunday 30 August morning, we’ve got a 5 ft swell from the east, period 7 seconds – short period, windswell type stuff. Combined swell energy is 522 (moderate), but the wind is blasting 22 mph from the ENE, cross-off, which keeps the surface clean. The quality is listed as marginal, so it’s not a total write-off, but a bit average. For a beginner reef break like Tankers, 5 ft is probably at the upper end of comfortable, so maybe think of it as a challenging day for learning. By afternoon, the swell drops to 5 ft, same wind, and conditions are poor – avoid that.
Monday 31 August and Tuesday 01 September see the swell drop to 2 ft but with a very long period of 15 to 18 seconds and energy around 349 to 475. That’s groundswell, and at a reef, that long period can produce nice shaped waves, but the size is tiny. Wind stays 19 to 22 mph from the ENE, cross-off, so clean but small. The rating is zero across the board – not worth paddling out for.
Wednesday 02 September morning shows a bit more life: 3 ft from the south, 16 second period, combined energy of 602 (moderate). Still cross-off wind from ENE at 12 mph, and the forecast says marginal – could be a sneaky session if you’re keen on waist-high waves with good shape. Crowds at Tankers are “often,” so expect company if the waves look rideable. The water temperature anomaly is not given, but we can assume it’s about average for this time of year.
The big story arrives Friday 04 September through Saturday 05 September. Friday morning sees 6 ft from the east, period 7 seconds, combined energy 676 (moderate to strong). But the wind is 22 mph from ENE, cross-off – still clean but strong. By Saturday morning 05 September, the swell jumps to 10 ft from the east, period 8 seconds, and combined energy rockets to 1314 – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. However, the wind is 31 mph from ENE, cross-off. For Tankers, a reef break, 10 ft is only for experts. Beginners should stay well away. The surf quality is still rated poor, and with that wind, it’s going to be messy even if clean. This setup actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing given the strong wind and decent swell.
Sunday 06 September to Monday 07 September, the swell eases to 6 ft from the south (10 second period) on Sunday morning, then 5 ft afternoon, but the wind swings more cross and cross-off, with fresh breezes. Combined energy around 610 to 779, but still poor to marginal. Not the best.
Tuesday 08 September through Wednesday 09 September has swell around 3 ft to 4 ft, long period (14 to 17 seconds), and energy in the 346 to 568 range. Wind is lighter on Wednesday morning at just 6 mph from the ESE – that’s a light cross breeze, but the swell is tiny. Marginal conditions at best.
Thursday 10 September sees rain showers and onshore wind from SSE at 12 mph – that’s a no-go with 2 ft swell.
The standout pick? Look to Monday 14 September morning. Swell is only 2 ft but from the southwest with a very long period of 21 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell, and a reef like Tankers can turn that ankle-high energy into fun, glassy lines. Combined energy is 419 (moderate). Wind is light from ENE at 6 mph, cross-off, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the one to circle. It’s 16 days out, so treat it as promising but not locked in.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Wed night, strong winds from the ENE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | E 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 19 | SSW 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | SSE 10 | E 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
226 | 198 | 199 | 191 | 180 | 273 | 329 | 314 | 465 | 520 | 401 | 347 | 268 | 250 | 365 | 619 | 1068 | 1476 | 702 | 412 | 302 | |
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-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 | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:56PM0.56m | 5:56AM0.58m | 5:20PM0.49m | 6:48AM0.60m | 5:42PM0.41m | 7:51AM0.61m | 5:57PM0.35m | 9:11AM0.63m | 10:39AM0.65m | 11:53AM0.69m | 11:42PM0.23m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:02AM0.18m | 11:20PM0.08m | 11:55AM0.24m | 11:45PM0.07m | 1:04PM0.29m | 00:15AM0.07m | 2:51PM0.32m | 00:53AM0.08m | 1:48AM0.10m | 3:13AM0.11m | 8:07PM0.19m | ||||||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 19 | SSW 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | E 13 | SE 12 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 |
226 | 100 | 199 | 191 | 180 | 273 | 329 | 314 | 465 | 520 | 401 | 347 | 268 | 250 | 229 | 173 | 127 | 282 | 635 | 412 | 302 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 11 | S 11 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | S 13 | E 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 6 |
46 | 162 | 85 | 82 | 82 | 50 | 100 | 75 | 35 | 34 | 63 | 58 | 82 | 72 | 72 | 127 | 121 | 132 | 702 | 196 | 64 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | E 11 | S 21 | SSW 19 | SW 14 | S 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 15 | E 13 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 |
43 | 40 | 35 | 76 | 123 | 74 | 46 | 51 | 50 | 48 | 38 | 85 | 52 | 33 | 48 | 43 | 62 | 86 | 167 | 209 | 247 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | — | — | — |
226 | 198 | 161 | 225 | 273 | 245 | 264 | 318 | 374 | 229 | 232 | 173 | 202 | 220 | 365 | 619 | 1068 | 1476 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 21 | 7 | 17 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 149 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 7 | 24 | 181 | 178 | 178 | 178 | 152 | 81 | 27 | 7 |
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.











