Bristol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next 16 days are a tough watch for surf around Bristol. The data is pretty clear: we’ve got a long stretch of onshore and cross-onshore winds that just won’t let up, and the waves are small and messy. It’s a real bummer for anyone looking to get a proper paddle in. There’s a solid 16-day gap here with no real surf recommendation, so don’t hold your breath for a last-minute save. The whole period is a write-off for quality waves.

Starting from the 3rd of September, it’s a rough scene. The wind is coming from the NNE and ENE, 9 to 12 mph, making things real choppy. Swell is tiny, only 2 ft to 3 ft from the north, with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is weak, sitting around 99 to 104 – just not enough push. The water temperature is 75°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s the only decent thing going on.

Moving into the 4th and 5th, it’s more of the same: cloudy, cross-onshore wind, and swell staying under 3 ft. The energy drops even lower, into the 70s and 80s. The 6th and 7th see a slight bump in swell height to 4 ft and 4 ft, but the wind stiffens to 16-19 mph, making it lumpy and horrible. The energy picks up a bit, hitting 137 and then 283, but with that wind, it’s just a blown-out mess.

The 8th through the 12th are the most frustrating. Swell builds to 4 ft and 5 ft, with energy climbing into the 300s and even 415 on the 9th, but the wind is still cross-on or onshore every single session. The period is short at 6 to 8 seconds, so it’s just weak, choppy lines. There’s a brief moment of hope on the 12th afternoon when the period jumps to 11 seconds, but the swell is only 2 ft and the wind is howling at 16 mph cross-on – not worth a paddle.

The second week doesn’t get any better. From the 13th to the 18th, it’s all small, wind-affected surf. The best you’ll see is 4 ft on the 15th and 17th, but with periods of 7 seconds and moderate cross-onshore winds, it’s just not clean. The energy is moderate, ranging from 100 to 324, but the quality is poor. The 14th has a long-period groundswell from the NNW at 15 seconds, but the swell is only 2 ft – too small to do anything with, and it’s still cross-on. For a reef break, that long period would ideally need a clean offshore wind, but we don’t get that here.

Honestly, for a spot that’s fairly exposed to the north, this is a real letdown. The one standout is Bristol itself, a reef break that’s consistent and suited for intermediate surfers. But with the wind hammering it from the NNE and N every day, the waves are blown out and choppy. It’s a shame, because the swell direction is close to the optimum (NNW), but the wind just ruins it. If you’re a kite surfer, the setup might look more interesting with the strong, consistent cross-on wind, but for a paddle surfer, it’s just not happening.

Hang in there, but I wouldn’t bother waxing up for a while. Forecasts can change, but this one looks pretty locked in.

Rusty

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