May 17, 2018 Surf Forecast
Swell Summary
Outlook through Wednesday May 23: Small north and northwest swells are expected Thursday through this weekend. Small south and southwest swells will maintain background surf along south facing shores through early Friday. A long-period south-southwest swell, expected to arrive late Friday, may produce a modest increase in surf heights along south facing shores this weekend. Expect choppy surf to increase slightly along east facing shores as the trades strengthen Friday through this weekend.
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 East
am
pm
Surf: Waist high NE wind swell for the morning with occasional stomach sets. This rotates more ESE and builds in the aftrernoon with sets up to chest high.
Conditions: Fairly clean in the morning with S winds 5-10mph. Sideshore texture/chop conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting SSE 10-15mph.
North West
am
pm
Surf: Ankle to knee high SSW ground swell.
Conditions: Semi glassy in the morning with NE winds less than 5mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting W 10-15mph.
West
am
pm
Surf: Knee high SSW ground swell for the morning with occasional thigh high sets. This builds in the afternoon with sets up to stomach high.
Conditions: Glassy in the morning with N winds less than 5mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting WNW 5-10mph.
South East
am
pm
Surf: Waist high ESE short period wind swell with occasional stomach high sets.
Conditions: Bumpy/semi bumpy with E winds 10-15mph in the morning shifting ENE 5-10mph in the afternoon.
**Click directly on the images below to make them larger. Charts include: Hawaii County projected winds, tides, swell direction & period and expected wave heights.**
Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov and SwellInfo.com