Waimea Bay/Pinballs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's get stuck into what we've got for the North Shore.

Well, you might want to grab a cold one, because the outlook for the next couple of weeks is pretty damn quiet. We're looking at a dry spell that just won't quit. The first real surfable wave doesn't show up until Monday, September 7th, so be prepared to wait over a week. The water's about average for this time of year, no surprises there.

For the first week, it's a write-off. Waimea Bay/Pinballs (Oahu) is seeing practically nothing - we're talking flatness with a few tiny, gutless ripples that are barely worth getting out of bed for. The wind is cross-off and pretty fresh, which would be great if there was a wave to surf, but there isn't.

The first glimmer of hope appears on Monday, September 7th. A bit of energy finally shows up, but even then, it's not looking good. The models are showing a 2 ft swell from the NNW with a very long period of 14 seconds, which sounds promising, but the combined swell energy is moderate at best (123). The problem? The wind is still a stiff cross-off from the ENE at 22 mph. It's going to be messy and blown out. The forecasters are calling it "poor surf conditions," and I'm not arguing with them.

The best bet in the entire 16-day window? If you're desperate for a paddle, you're looking at the very end of the run on Saturday, September 12th, and most promisingly, Sunday, September 13th. On Sunday morning, we finally get a break in the wind. It's going to be glassy with no wind at all. The swell is still small, at 3 ft from the NNE, and the period is a weak 8 seconds, so it won't have much push. But the combined energy climbs to a moderate 164, which is the best reading in the whole forecast. After two weeks of junk, a clean 3 ft wave is going to feel like heaven. The break quality for this spot is top-shelf, but remember it's an advanced spot, so if it's small, it might be a bit shifty.

So, the standout, if you can call it that, is the morning and afternoon of Sunday, September 13th. The conditions will be glassy and clean for the first time in ages. It's not going to be epic, but it will be the only clean surf on offer. Don't expect any crowds to be a problem, as the conditions have been so poor that most will have given up. Get out there, enjoy the glass, and pray for more swell in the next forecast cycle.

Rusty.

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