Tubes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get into it.

First off, the water at Tubes is running at a super chilly 55°, which is a massive 11° colder than usual for this time of year. That’s seriously unusual, so you’ll want a thick suit and booties if you’re heading out.

The forecast starts with a bang on Thursday, August 20th, and it's a big one. We’ve got a solid 13 ft SSW groundswell wrapping in with a 14-second period. The combined energy is massive (6035), so it’s powerful. It’s a solid cross-off breeze, so the face will be clean. This is expert-only territory—over 8 ft and heavy. The morning is the pick, with the afternoon dropping to 12 ft but still holding strong. This is the standout swell of the whole window.

Friday the 21st sees the swell drop to 8 ft, but the wind switches to a cross-on from the east, which will mess with the shape. By afternoon, it gets choppy and ugly under a 16 mph breeze. Saturday the 22nd is a write-off—strong 25 mph winds, even if they are cross-off, will make it messy and tough.

Sunday, August 23rd, is the next real highlight. The swell is a clean 8 ft from the southwest, but the wind is absolutely glassy in the morning. It’s a classic. The combined energy is still strong (1585), and with that 11-second period, it will have punch. This is a solid intermediate day, and with the glass-off, it’s going to be perfect. The crowd factor is "sometimes," so you might have some company, but it’ll be worth it.

Monday the 24th is a good follow-up with clean offshore winds and 7 ft to 6 ft waves. Nice, clean, and fun. Tuesday the 25th sees a bump in size with an 8 ft SW swell and a very long 14-second period, but the cross-on wind from the east kills it. By afternoon, it’s a lumpy mess.

The middle of the week (Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th) is smaller, with waves in the 4 ft to 5 ft range. The winds are mostly offshore or cross-off, so it’s clean. This is good for logs or a fun mid-length board. The energy is moderate (701-1168), so it’s not going to be a barn burner, but it’s surfable.

Then, hold onto your leash for Saturday, August 29th. The afternoon sees a big spike to 10 ft from the SW with a 14-second period and a strong energy reading (3789). The wind is a clean cross-off from the SSE. This is another expert-only session, with plenty of power.

Sunday the 30th gets blown out by strong onshore winds, and Monday the 31st gets back to clean, punchy 8 ft surf with good energy (2233). The first two days of September are a mixed bag, with a lot of wind, but Wednesday, September 2nd, is a beauty. The morning is 8 ft, and the afternoon bumps to 10 ft with glassy conditions. The period is 15 seconds in the morning and 14 in the afternoon. This is a proper, long-period groundswell that will be making the most of Tubes' reef and point setup. The energy is strong (2368 and 3427). This is a standout for the second week.

Thursday September 3rd is big but a bit windy, and Friday the 4th wraps up the run with a clean 8 ft to 10 ft southerly groundswell under offshore winds. A solid end to the forecast.

So, the two true standouts: Thursday morning, August 20th for the biggest, most powerful swell of the run, and Sunday morning, August 23rd for the perfect glassy conditions. For the second week, Wednesday, September 2nd is your best bet, but it's a long-range call, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Read more