December 13, 2018 Surf Forecast
Swell Summary
Outlook through Thursday December 20: The current northwest swell has peaked just below advisory levels and is gradually subsiding. A smaller northwest swell is expected tonight through Saturday. A new large northwest swell is expected 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 Friday. Surf should drop below the advisory level by Friday night, then continue to lower over the weekend as the trades weaken.
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: Shoulder to head high NNW ground swell for the morning with occasional 1-2′ overhead high sets. This drops in the afternoon with occasional head high sets.
Conditions: Sideshore/choppy with E winds 15-20mph in the morning shifting ENE 25-30mph in the afternoon.
South
am pm
Surf: Ankle to knee high S 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 NNW 5-10mph.
West
am pm
Surf: Waist to chest high NNW ground swell for the morning with occasional shoulder high sets. This drops a bit in the afternoon.
Conditions: Clean with ENE winds 15-20mph in the morning increasing to 20-25mph in the afternoon.
**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