Wailua/Horners Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here with the scoop for Wailua/Horners (Kauai). Gonna be honest: this whole 16-day run looks pretty bleak. The wind is locked in from the ENE, blowing onshore, and the swell is coming from pretty much the same direction. That’s a recipe for chop and poor surf conditions. No real standouts to point to, so keep the board in the van unless you’re really jonesing.

Starting Saturday July 4th, we’ve got 6 ft of short-period ENE swell, but that onshore breeze at 12-16 mph is just wrecking it. Combined wave energy is moderate at 453, but conditions are poor. That carries through Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th, with swell between 6 ft and 7 ft, short period around 8 seconds, wind never letting up. Tuesday the 7th and Wednesday the 8th are the same story—7 ft, ENE, onshore, energy in the 400-500 range. A whole stretch of days where you’re better off doing something else.

Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th don’t change—6 ft to 7 ft, same direction, same onshore wind, same poor surf tag. Saturday the 11th is 6 ft, still no good. Sunday the 12th sees a tiny drop in the afternoon to 5 ft from the NE, but the wind is still on. Energy drops to 347 (weak to moderate), but it’s still chopped.

Now, Monday July 13th throws a weird one. Morning is 4 ft from the NE, still onshore. But in the afternoon, we get a tiny 2 ft swell from the west with a very long period of 18 seconds. Combined energy jumps to 480. That long period is classic groundswell—could wrap into the reef and make for some clean lines if the wind cooperates. But it doesn’t: wind is still ENE at 12 mph, onshore. So it’s a tease, not a session. For experts only if you’re feeling lucky.

Tuesday the 14th through Wednesday the 15th go back to 6 ft-6 ft ENE swell, energy climbing into the 700+ range (strong), but with the same onshore wind, it’s still poor. Thursday the 16th is 6 ft, 571 energy, poor. Friday the 17th brings a risk of thunderstorms, 5 ft-6 ft, poor. And into the final weekend of the 18th and 19th, the swell drops to 3 ft-4 ft, still onshore, energy down to 280-420. Nothing clean.

So the only highlight is that Monday afternoon long-period west swell on July 13th, but it’s tiny and the wind is on it. If you’re an expert who knows the reef, maybe you snag a few, but it’s inconsistent and crowds are likely. Water temp is 79°, right on average for the time of year—at least the water’s warm while you’re waiting.

Rusty out.

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