Surf Forecasts:
Tankers surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 21s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 826 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 22s period with SW 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 (Sep 14) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 22s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 10s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 22s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tankers over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's coming down the pipe.
The first week or so of this outlook is pretty quiet. We're looking at Tankers (a reef break) from Monday the 14th through that whole next week, and the surf just isn't giving us anything to work with. The winds are mostly cross or cross-off from the east and east-northeast, keeping the surface clean, but the waves are small and unexciting. Swell heights hang around 3 ft to 4 ft, with periods mostly between 12 and 18 seconds. The wave energy is moderate, but the overall quality is described as marginal or poor. It's a period for checking the forecast again later, not for waxing up.
The real payoff, and the only shot at something truly special, comes at the very end of the forecast. Starting Friday the 25th of September, everything starts to click. A light east-northeast breeze keeps it clean, and we get a steady 3 ft swell from the SSW. The water temp is a warm 81°F, which is about normal for the time of year.
Saturday the 26th is the one to circle on the calendar. Morning brings a glassy, dead-calm surface with a light westerly breeze, and the afternoon is just as good with a light north-northwesterly. That is the dream scenario – perfect, clean conditions. The swell holds at 3 ft from the SSW with a period of 14-15 seconds. That long period means it's a proper groundswell, full of energy and shape, perfect for a reef break like Tankers. The wave energy is moderate but solid, and the report is calling for "expect very good surf conditions" across the board that weekend.
Sunday the 27th afternoon sees the wind turn straight offshore from the north, which is fantastic. Then Monday the 28th is another beauty, with more glassy conditions in the morning and a slight bump in swell to 3 ft, with a very long period of 18 seconds. That is heavy, powerful swell. Tuesday the 29th keeps the trend with another glassy morning.
Bottom line: don't waste your time for the first ten days. Save your energy for the final stretch. The clear standout is Saturday the 26th, with Monday the 28th a very close second. That stretch from Friday the 25th to Tuesday the 29th will deliver the cleanest, most consistent, and best-shaped waves of the whole 16-day window, all wrapping beautifully into Tankers.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 24 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 87 | 227 | 224 | 557 | 480 | 535 | 541 | 541 | 510 | 322 | 371 | 826 | 725 | 675 | 635 | 506 | 512 | 295 | 316 | 370 | 366 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:07PM0.41m | 6:35AM0.62m | 5:22PM0.36m | 7:27AM0.60m | 5:15PM0.31m | 8:35AM0.57m | 10:01AM0.57m | 11:19AM0.58m | 11:43PM0.23m | 12:15PM0.61m | 00:42AM0.27m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 12:14PM0.24m | 11:18PM0.09m | 1:19PM0.28m | 11:41PM0.11m | 3:06PM0.30m | 00:08AM0.13m | 00:43AM0.16m | 1:55AM0.18m | 8:04PM0.21m | 8:03PM0.18m | |||||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 22 | ENE 5 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 76 | 227 | 24 | 557 | 480 | 535 | 541 | 541 | 510 | 322 | 371 | 826 | 725 | 675 | 635 | 506 | 512 | 257 | 316 | 370 | 366 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | SSW 14 | SW 21 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 19 | 74 | 224 | 27 | 16 | 38 | 52 | 73 | 71 | 216 | 214 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 15 | 27 | 24 | 158 | 146 | 142 | 33 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 24 | NE 8 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | E 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SSE 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | S 20 | SSW 18 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 87 | 11 | 68 | 41 | 44 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 31 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 67 | 107 | 162 | 164 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ENE 4 | — | ENE 6 | NE 8 | E 5 | E 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 11 | 17 | — | 53 | 96 | 27 | 41 | 64 | 115 | 454 | 567 | 363 | 334 | 295 | 287 | 257 | 228 | 295 | 315 | 280 | 256 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 149 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 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.
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