Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, let’s talk about what’s coming up for Tunnels. It’s a bit of a waiting game here, but there’s a real gem hiding in the second week if you’re patient.

Right now, the immediate outlook is pretty flat and choppy. We’ve got a weak, long-period southwest groundswell on the 19th, but it’s tiny at 1 ft and the wind is up. The water is 80° - that’s bang on average for the time of year, feels like normal tropical bathwater. Honestly, the first week is a write-off; the swell is too small and the wind is too strong for anything fun. You’ll see a few days of marginal conditions, like Thursday the 21st afternoon with a cleaner cross-off breeze and a 2 ft, 16-second swell, but it’s just not enough to get excited about. There’s a big gap of poor surf here until we get into the end of August.

Now, hold on to your board. The standout window is the morning of Thursday, 27th August. That’s the one. We’re looking at a 4 ft south swell with a solid 17-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1022, which is moderate to strong, and the wind is a light east-northeast cross-off, keeping things clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, and that long period will really make the reefs and points at Tunnels (Kauai) stand up. The south swell direction is a good match for the spot’s optimum southwest exposure. With a strong breeze and clean conditions, this is a real opportunity. The Thursday afternoon is smaller from the same swell, but the morning is the call.

After that, the 28th and 29th are a drop-off, with the wind freshening up hard on the 30th. The first few days of September look mostly weak, but keep an eye on the 3rd of September. Thursday morning, the 3rd, has a glassy 4 ft southwest swell with a 12-second period and a light south-southeast breeze. The water is still warm, and while it’s not as strong as the 27th, the glassy conditions make for a clean, fun session. The 3rd afternoon is clean too, with a light north-east breeze. That’s a nice little backup.

So, the big call is Thursday 27th August morning. Everything aligns: decent size, clean wind, and that long-period groundswell. It’s a long-range prospect, so keep an eye on the forecasts, but it looks promising. The rest of the window is mostly for the patient or the kite surfers, because when the wind is up and the swell is small, it’s a kite-fest. Stay keen.

Rusty

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