Surf Forecasts:
Erie surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NNW swell with 39 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Erie this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Erie in the next 16 days are 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Erie over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – this is a tough one. We're looking at Lake Erie, and the next 16 days are a bit of a write-off for anyone looking for a proper surf. There's a massive gap here, with no real surf on offer from the start of the period all the way through to the end of August. Let's break it down.
The first half of the 16-day window is a real struggle. We've got a few tiny pulses of energy, but nothing that translates into decent waves. The first faint glimmer comes on Friday afternoon, August 14th, with a tiny 1.0ft NE swell at Erie. The combined energy is weak at just (1), and with a period of 2 seconds, that's just wind chop. The water is sitting at 77°F which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, a full 4°F above average. That's a notable anomaly. The wind is light and cross-off, so it's clean, but there's just no wave to ride.
A bit more swell shows up on Sunday afternoon, August 16th. A 3ft W swell rolls in, with a period of 5 seconds and combined energy hitting (31). That's still weak energy, and the wind is a messy cross-on at 16 mph, making it choppy and poor. The biggest pulse of the entire period, if you can call it that, arrives on Thursday morning, August 20th, with a 3ft N swell, a period of 5 seconds, and energy getting up to (36). But again, the wind is cross-on at 9 mph, making it a choppy, cross-onshore mess. Everything else leading up to the end of August is flat, with zero combined energy.
After the 20th, it's a complete flat spell. For nearly a week, from August 21st to the 29th, there is nothing on the charts. The combined energy is zero for every single session. We get a glimpse of glassy conditions on the morning of the 24th, and again on the 27th, but there's no swell to speak of. It's a serious drought.
So, the honest truth is there's no standout here, no best option. This is a classic "leave the board in the car" kind of forecast. For a lake like Erie, it's not unusual to hit these long flat spells. The forecasts can change, but right now, this is a blank run. The only thing that might be worth mentioning is that with the onshore winds and choppy surface, this setup might be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. But for us, it's a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 26°C on Fri night, min 22°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | — | — | NE 3 | — | WSW 3 | W 5 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | N 3 | — | — | WSW 3 | W 4 | NW 5 | N 5 | N 4 | — |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 31 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 30 | 36 | 16 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | |||||||||||||||||||
Low Tide | |||||||||||||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 8:22 | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 3 | — | WSW 3 | W 5 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | WSW 3 | W 4 | NW 5 | N 5 | N 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 31 | 31 | 17 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 30 | 36 | 16 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 831 | 1740 | 3194 | 1740 | 1386 | 1742 | 1324 | 553 | 562 | 565 | 571 | 702 | 554 | 573 | 769 | 292 | 549 | 569 | 565 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lake Erie - United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Erie Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Erie provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Erie can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Erie 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 (Erie) 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 Erie 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 vacation in Lake Erie - United States? If you are looking for accommodation near Erie, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in Lake Erie - United States, consider staying in Erie which is 3 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around Lake Erie - United States where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Conneaut which is 41 km (25 miles) away, Ashtabula, Jamestown and Youngsville.
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