Waihee Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it – the next couple of weeks at Waihee are looking real rough. We’ve got a long stretch of onshore, choppy conditions that are not going to give us the clean, lined-up waves we want. It’s one of those periods where you might be better off doing something else, because the wind is just not cooperating.

The pattern starts Saturday, August 22nd, and it’s a mess. We’ve got a moderate cross-onshore breeze from the ENE, around 15 mph, with a weak, short-period swell. The swell is coming from the east at about 5 ft, but with a period of only 7 seconds, it’s just bumpy and weak – the combined energy of all swells is only 231 (moderate wave energy). Water temperature is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so at least the water is nice.

That same story repeats itself day after day. Sunday the 23rd gives us a slightly bigger swell, up to 5 ft, and the period climbs to 9 seconds, but the wind stays fresh and cross-onshore, making it lumpy. The combined energy jumps to 440 (moderate wave energy), but it’s wasted on the bumpy surface. Monday and Tuesday keep the same vibe: clear skies but that persistent ENE wind at 12-15 mph, cross-onshore, keeping the surf choppy and poor. The swell holds around 5 ft to 5 ft, but the period drops back to 8 seconds.

We get a bit of a break in the wind on Wednesday the 26th, with the breeze dropping to 12 mph, but it’s still cross-onshore, and the swell drops to 4 ft with a 7-second period. The combined energy falls to 177 (weak wave energy). Thursday and Friday are more of the same – clear skies, moderate cross-onshore wind, and small, weak swell.

The weekend of the 29th and 30th is a total write-off. Saturday the 29th sees 4 ft swell from the ENE with a 7-second period and 15 mph winds, and Sunday the 30th is light but still cross-onshore, with a 5 ft swell from the NE. The combined energy on Sunday afternoon is only 209 (weak wave energy).

Now, here’s a small glimmer. On Monday, August 31st, the wind finally drops to a gentle breeze, 9 mph, from the ENE. It’s still cross-onshore, but it’s lighter. The swell picks up to 5 ft, and the combined energy goes to 247 (moderate wave energy). That morning, the wind is light enough that it might be barely rideable, but it’s still not clean. Tuesday, September 1st, offers a similar story with a gentle breeze and rain showers, but the swell is a bit bigger at 6 ft, and the combined energy is 508 (moderate wave energy). The wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s not great.

The only real chance we get is on Wednesday, September 2nd. The wind shifts to a light breeze, 6 mph, from the NE, and it’s actually onshore, not cross-onshore. The swell is 5 ft from the ENE with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is 344 (moderate wave energy). The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” but the wind is the lightest we’ve seen. This is the best of a bad bunch, but it’s still not what we’d call a standout.

The rest of the week into September 6th is just more of the same – moderate to fresh cross-onshore wind, and the swell stays around 5 ft to 7 ft, but the wind just ruins it. By Sunday the 6th, we’ve got a severe gale from the NE at 47 mph, which is totally blown out. For kite surfers, some of these days with strong onshore wind and decent swell might be worth a look, but for paddle surfing, it’s a hard pass.

So, to sum it up: the best we’ve got in the whole 16-day window is Wednesday, September 2nd, with light winds and a 5 ft swell from the ENE. It’s marginal, but it’s the cleanest it’ll be. The rest of the time, it’s just a choppy, cross-onshore mess. Keep your hopes up – forecasts can change – but right now, I’d be looking for something else to do.

Rusty.

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