Surf Forecasts:
Tombstones surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, ENE swell with 901 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tombstones this week:
The surf forecast for Tombstones over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tombstones in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 18s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tombstones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
What’s up, it’s Rusty. Let’s run through the same story but in feet, for the land of the free. First week’s a bit of a washout, honestly. We’re talkin’ tiny swell under 3ft, mostly from the East-northeast and North-northeast, with a light cross-onshore or onshore breeze leaving the surface a bit messy. The wave energy is weak, all under 300, and the forecast is littered with “poor surf conditions.” Gonna be a dry spell for the first several days.
The first time you’ll want to get serious is Saturday, September 19th, in the afternoon at Tombstones (it’s a setup reef break). The morning’s still a bit of a write-off with rain and an onshore wind, but come the afternoon, it flips. You’ve got a clean 5ft swell out of the East, and the wind goes glassy – absolutely dead calm. The energy is a moderate 386. It’s not gonna be the biggest, but for silky smooth conditions and fun little waves, this is your best bet. The “sometimes” crowds mean you might have a few others in the lineup.
Now, the final week cranks up. From Wednesday, September 24th, through Saturday, September 27th, we see energy jump into the strong range – four-digit numbers. The biggest standout is Friday, September 25th, in the afternoon at Tombstones. You’re lookin’ at a solid 8ft swell from the East, with a long 11-second period, combined energy of 1667, and gentler cross-shore winds that’ll keep the surface from getting too chopped. That’s a heavy, groundswell-driven wave, and with the height getting over 6ft, it’s deep water for experts only. Be ready.
Water temperature is a balmy 81°F, right on the mark for this time of year, so you won’t be needin’ any thermal gear.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 11 | E 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 313 | 245 | 173 | 123 | 94 | 121 | 121 | 121 | 123 | 88 | 67 | 96 | 92 | 112 | 196 | 395 | 384 | 708 | 863 | 758 | 645 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:18PM0.81m | 3:47AM0.74m | 3:44PM0.74m | 4:27AM0.76m | 4:07PM0.66m | 5:08AM0.75m | 4:27PM0.58m | 5:52AM0.73m | 4:43PM0.51m | 6:45AM0.69m | 4:48PM0.44m | 7:59AM0.65m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 9:04AM0.05m | 9:36PM0.02m | 9:45AM0.11m | 10:01PM0.01m | 10:26AM0.19m | 10:26PM0.02m | 11:10AM0.26m | 10:51PM0.04m | 12:01PM0.33m | 11:17PM0.07m | 1:14PM0.39m | 11:49PM0.11m | 00:35AM0.16m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 18 |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 6 | NE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 313 | 245 | 173 | 123 | 94 | 121 | 121 | 121 | 123 | 88 | 46 | 96 | 89 | 112 | 196 | 280 | 384 | 708 | 863 | 758 | 645 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | NE 8 | ESE 7 | NE 8 | E 11 | NNE 8 | E 10 | N 9 | NNE 9 | SE 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 22 | 33 | 44 | 62 | 84 | 82 | 28 | 23 | 61 | 16 | 67 | 31 | 62 | 84 | 19 | 73 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 133 | 180 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | E 16 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | E 12 | E 11 | NNE 8 | NE 7 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 47 | 92 | 39 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | N 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 17 | 5 | 38 | 52 | — | — | — | — | 395 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 93 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 100 | 93 | 0 | 6 | 82 | 0 | 6 | 82 | 82 | 99 | 6 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Tombstones Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tombstones provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tombstones can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tombstones 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 (Tombstones) 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 Tombstones 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.
Tombstones is 5 km (3 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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