Surf Forecasts:
Tankers surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with 414 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 18s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tankers over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for our little stretch of coast over the next couple of weeks. It’s gonna be a real mixed bag, with some quiet bits and then a big pulse of energy later on, though the winds are gonna be the main talking point.
Honestly, the outlook kicks off pretty flat. From now through the rest of this week and into the early part of the next, there’s just not much to get excited about. We’ve got a few days of small, weak swell – think around 1 ft to 3 ft – with moderate to fresh cross-offshore winds. The water temp is sitting at a pretty average 81°F, nothing unusual there. The energy levels are so-so, with values like 479 and 330 (moderate). It’s clean, sure, but really marginal for a decent paddle. This stretch runs right through the end of the week and into the weekend.
Now, a little glimmer appears on Thursday the 20th. That afternoon, the wind drops right out to glassy (5 km/h from the SW), and we get a nice little 2 ft groundswell pushing in from the SW at 17 to 18 seconds. The energy pushes up to 413 (moderate). It’s not big, but that long-period, glassy combo at Tankers will make for some clean, peelable lines. This is the pick of the first week for sure – a sweet, small-wave session.
After that, the wind picks right up again. From Friday the 21st through to Monday the 24th, we’ve got a mix of cross-shore and stronger cross-offshore winds, mostly from the ENE at 15 to 22 mph. The swell stays on the small side, 2 ft to 5 ft, but the wind is just too strong for it to be any fun. This is a proper lull.
Then, things get interesting for the second week. Starting around Wednesday the 26th of August, the swell really starts to build. It’s an E’ly swell, short period at 8 seconds, but it gets big. By Thursday the 27th, we’re seeing 8 ft at 8 seconds, and the energy skyrockets into the 1200s (strong). By Friday the 28th, it peaks at 10 ft from the east at 9 seconds, with energy over 1500 (very strong).
This is a big problem though. That 10 ft E swell is going to be a heavy, powerful closeout at a beach break, and it’s a real expert-only situation (over 8 ft). The wind stays cross-off from the ENE at 15-19 mph, which is clean but strong. The setup looks like it’ll be more interesting for kite surfing than a relaxing paddle session. It’s powerful and raw, but not very user-friendly. The short period (8-9 seconds) means it’s all wind-swell energy with no real shape.
The energy finally backs off by the 30th of August, dropping back to 5 ft and 10-second period, with the wind easing a bit. After that, it fades quickly back into the small stuff.
To wrap it up: the standout moment is that glassy Thursday the 20th – a real hidden gem of a session. The big nasty pulse from the 26th to the 29th is for the brave and the well-equipped only. For the rest of the time, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | 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 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
329 | 222 | 215 | 123 | 114 | 129 | 125 | 175 | 316 | 305 | 347 | 364 | 326 | 322 | 326 | 255 | 245 | 203 | 191 | 226 | |
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 | cross | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 1:42PM0.67m | 1:26AM0.28m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 00:54AM0.11m | 2:59PM0.34m | 1:23AM0.13m | 2:04AM0.14m | 3:11AM0.15m | 9:15PM0.23m | 9:01PM0.20m | 5:49AM0.13m | 9:11PM0.18m | |||||||||||
— | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | S 13 | ENE 7 | S 13 | S 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
138 | 222 | 86 | 119 | 114 | 108 | 84 | 63 | 57 | 54 | 347 | 364 | 326 | 322 | 326 | 255 | 245 | 201 | 191 | 186 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SW 6 | S 13 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 12 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 6 | W 10 | W 10 | S 14 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | SSE 13 |
329 | 9 | 215 | 123 | 79 | 129 | 71 | 175 | 316 | 305 | 55 | 38 | 37 | 17 | 51 | 54 | 106 | 69 | 46 | 98 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | WNW 11 | SSW 17 | SE 9 | WNW 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | S 14 | S 12 | W 10 | S 13 | SSE 11 | NW 11 |
12 | 24 | 115 | 21 | 48 | 69 | 125 | 45 | 40 | 39 | 22 | 33 | 51 | 48 | 107 | 47 | 54 | 92 | 42 | 29 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | E 7 | — | E 7 | ENE 8 | — | NE 6 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 |
125 | 112 | — | 88 | 109 | — | 31 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 81 | 215 | 203 | 181 | 226 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 149 | 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.











