Surf Forecasts:
Aberaeron surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, NNW swell with 143 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Aberaeron this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Aberaeron in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Aberaeron over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Aberaeron has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this isn’t a classic stretch for us, and the first week is a proper write-off. We’re looking at a long gap of poor conditions right from the start. From Tuesday the 18th of August all the way through to Saturday the 29th of August, there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, the swell is weak, and those combined energy numbers are barely scraping into double digits – we’re talking 26 to 45 for most of that run, which is weak. It’s lumpy, choppy, and just plain messy.
Things finally start to show a little life on Sunday the 30th of August. The morning session is the first time we see a score of 1 out of 10, which is more of a “maybe” than a “let’s go.” You’ve got a 4ft swell from the WNW with a short 5-second period, so it’s windswell, not a groundswell. The combined energy is still only 73, so it’s weak. But the wind is light from the SSE at 6 mph, and it’s cross-offshore, keeping the surface clean. It’s not going to set the world on fire, but it’s the best we’ve seen in nearly two weeks.
The standout, if you can call it that, is on Monday the 31st of August. The afternoon brings a 6ft swell from the SW, with a period of 7 seconds. That combined energy jumps to 309, which is moderate energy – a real sign of life. The wind is from the S at 12 mph, cross-offshore, so the waves should be clean. However, at 6ft, this is getting a bit much for beginners, but for the intermediate crew, this is your window. The swell direction is SW, and the guidance says the optimum swell direction for Aberaeron is SW, so that’s a perfect match. It’s a beach and point setup, so it can handle that direction. The crowds here are “sometimes,” so you might have a few mates out, but nothing crazy.
The water temperature anomaly is not mentioned in the data, so it’s about average for the time of year. For the first break, that’s all we can say.
Into the first week of September, the surf drops off again. On Tuesday the 1st of September, we get a 4ft SW swell with a longer 10-second period, giving us 271 combined energy, but it’s ruined by a strong 19 mph cross-on shore wind. That’s lumpy and poor. Wednesday the 2nd of September is similar – 4ft from the W, 8-second period, 224 energy, but onshore wind again.
So, to sum it up: don’t bother for the first week and a half. Your best bet is the afternoon of Monday the 31st of August. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s clean, the direction is right, and there’s enough energy to get a few fun ones. After that, it’s back to the waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon night, min 14°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | WSW 6 | W 6 | W 4 | W 5 | WSW 7 | W 5 | NNW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | NW 4 | W 13 | W 15 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | W 14 | W 8 | W 14 | W 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
33 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 45 | 58 | 34 | 143 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:21PM3.65m | 00:42AM3.67m | 1:02PM3.34m | 1:25AM3.26m | 1:49PM3.03m | 2:21AM2.89m | 2:57PM2.78m | 3:51AM2.66m | 4:42PM2.71m | 5:32AM2.69m | 6:05PM2.90m | 6:36AM2.90m | 6:57PM3.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:56AM0.72m | 6:57PM0.88m | 7:24AM1.04m | 7:31PM1.16m | 7:58AM1.34m | 8:19PM1.43m | 8:51AM1.59m | 9:39PM1.63m | 10:27AM1.72m | 11:42PM1.64m | 12:21PM1.61m | 1:08AM1.42m | 1:25PM1.35m | 1:57AM1.13m | |||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 4 | NNW 4 | W 16 | — | W 16 | W 15 | WSW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | WSW 6 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | W 10 | W 9 | W 14 | W 14 | NNW 4 | — | W 8 | WSW 4 |
— | 6 | 3 | 5 | — | 5 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | 1 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 14 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 13 | W 8 | W 10 | W 15 | W 15 | W 9 | W 9 | W 14 | — | W 14 | W 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | 4 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | W 13 | W 15 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 13 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | WSW 6 | W 6 | W 4 | W 5 | WSW 7 | W 5 | NNW 6 | — | — | NW 4 | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | W 3 | — |
33 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 45 | 58 | 34 | 143 | — | — | 9 | — | — | 13 | 19 | 18 | 15 | — | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 66 | 397 | 76 | 361 | 361 | 66 | 71 | 194 | 77 | 64 | 194 | 154 | 86 | 194 | 307 | 307 | 265 | 194 | 327 | 348 | 339 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Mid Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Aberaeron Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Aberaeron provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Aberaeron can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Aberaeron surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Aberaeron) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Aberaeron may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Mid Wales? If you are looking for accommodation near Aberaeron, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Mid Wales, consider staying in Aberystwyth which is 16 km (10 miles) away. Other places in and around Mid Wales where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Trawscoed which is 18 km (11 miles) away, Aberporth, Carmarthen and Builth Wells.











