Waimea Bay
United States · Pacific Islands
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.9m NE
Wind: 10 km/h E (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: NNW
Cross-offshore wind. Still favourable, expect reasonably clean waves with some texture.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 10:26Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Boardshorts weather. 25°C water.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
0.9m swell at 9s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 24°C.
AI-generated summary for Waimea Bay. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Waimea Bay
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 6am (score: 17). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Waimea Bay.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Waimea Bay
Waimea Bay is a legendary big-wave arena situated on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. The bathymetric profile features a sudden, dramatic depth transition where deep ocean swells hit an abruptly sloping volcanic rock and sand shelf. As colossal north-westerly winter groundswells travel unimpeded across the deep Pacific Ocean, they collide with this shelf, forcing the water to jack into a massive, plunging A-frame. An easterly trade wind provides the ideal offshore flow, grooming the gigantic faces. The wave mechanics require a highly critical, steep take-off that transitions immediately into a fast, heavy drop with severe hydraulic force. Due to the extreme volume of moving water, brutal hold-downs, and a punishing shorebreak, it leaves zero margin for error. The intense pace of the wave demands rapid reflexes to negotiate the drop before the sheer weight of the lip detonates on the shallow inside bank. Consequently, Waimea Bay is strictly reserved for elite, advanced surfers possessing big-wave experience, specialised heavy-water equipment, and supreme cardiovascular fitness.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Waimea Bay. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Waimea Bay?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.