December 12, 2018 Surf Forecast
Swell Summary
Outlook through Wednesday December 19: The current northwest swell will peak late this morning into tonight just below advisory levels along north and west facing shores. A smaller northwest swell is then expected Thursday night through Saturday. A new and large northwest swell is then due in late in the day Saturday, with surf likely peaking at warning levels Saturday night and Sunday. Another even larger northwest swell is expected to build late Monday or Monday night, bringing another round of warning level surf to north and west facing shores Tuesday through the middle of next week.
Strong trade winds will keep advisory level surf in place along east facing shores through the remainder of the work week. Surf should drop below the advisory level Friday night, then continue to lower over the weekend as the trades diminish.
Surf heights are forecast heights of the face, or front, of waves. The surf forecast is based on the significant wave height, the average height of the one third largest waves, at the locations of the largest breakers. Some waves may be more than twice as high as the significant wave height. Expect to encounter rip currents in or near any surf zone.
North
am pm
Surf: Chest to shoulder high NNW long period swell for the morning with occasional head high sets. This builds in the afternoon with sets up to 1-3′ overhead high.
Conditions: Sideshore/choppy with E winds 15-20mph.
South
am pm
Surf: Ankle to knee high SW ground swell.
Conditions: Clean in the morning with NNE winds less than 5mph. Semi glassy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting to the WNW.
West
am pm
Surf: Waist to stomach high NNW long period swell for the morning with occasional chest sets. This builds to stomach to shoulder high for the afternoon.
Conditions: Clean with E winds 15-20mph.
**Click directly on the images below to make them larger. Charts include: Maui County projected winds, tides, swell direction & period and expected wave heights.**
Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov and SwellInfo.com