Oahu
Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with 23mph ENE winds.
Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with 23mph ENE winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Pipeline for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pipeline, Oahu. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 23mph ENE winds.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 23mph ENE winds.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with strong ENE wind at 19mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with strong E wind at 17mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 23mph out of the E.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Pipeline turns Good.
Check Pipeline from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Pipeline is a legendary reef break on Oahu's North Shore that produces some of the world's most powerful and hollow barrels. The wave stands up steeply on a shallow reef with a sharp take-off zone, creating intense hollow tubes that demand expert technique and split-second timing. This iconic spot is best in winter when North Pacific swells arrive with consistency, though it can turn dangerously shallow and fast during larger swells.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pipeline is 1-2ft with a 7.6s swell period. Wind is ENE at 23mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Pipeline is 1-2ft, produced by a 7.2ft ENE wind swell swell at 8s, a 2.3ft E secondary swell at 13s, a 2.1ft SSW tertiary swell at 15s, a 1.1ft SSW tertiary swell at 11s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Pipeline is Monday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 12.4s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pipeline works best with a N, NW swell and S, SE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Pipeline. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Pipeline is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to expert surfers. Pipeline is a legendary reef break on Oahu's North Shore that produces some of the world's most powerful and hollow barrels. The wave stands up steeply on a shallow reef with a sharp take-off zone, creating intense hollow tubes that demand expert technique and split-second timing. This iconic spot is best in winter when North Pacific swells arrive with consistency, though it can turn dangerously shallow and fast during larger swells.
The prime season at Pipeline is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Pipeline include shallow reef, strong currents, localism, rocks, extreme wave power. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Pipeline forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
