Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

The long range is looking at a solid run of swell for Fairhaven, but it’s a bit of a tale of two weeks. The first few days are decent, then it gets real serious, real fast, before backing off into a more manageable, but still fun, pattern. We’ve got a mix of conditions, so you gotta pick your moments.

The first proper call is Saturday morning, August 8th. It’s cloudy with a light offshore breeze from the north at 9 mph. That’s going to leave things clean and glassy. Swell is from the southwest at 6ft with a 16-second period, and the energy is strong at 1720. This is a good session for experienced surfers, the kind of clean, lined-up swell that gets the heart going. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

Sunday, August 9th looks like a step down. The wind swings around to the northeast and gets a bit fresher, with some light rain about. The swell drops to 4ft and the period shortens to 14 seconds. It’s surfable, but the energy is weaker and the conditions are less inspiring. I’d probably give it a miss unless you’re desperate.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th bring a bigger but messier pulse. Swell bumps up to 7ft, but the period is dropping and the wind is cross-offshore. It’s clean, but the quality is marginal. The energy is moderate to strong, but the swell direction is a bit more west in the mix. It’s not the best shape. Tuesday afternoon the wind goes more offshore and things clean up a bit, with the swell at 6ft and a 14-second period. That looks like a better window.

Now, here’s where things get wild. From Wednesday, August 12th through Friday, August 14th, the swell absolutely pumps. We’re talking 12ft to 18ft of southwest groundswell. The energy readings are off the charts, hitting 20147 on Thursday morning. That’s a warning sign. This is way too big for Fairhaven. If you’re a beginner, stay well away. In fact, this is more of a big-wave event, and even for experts, this break might be maxing out or closing out. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off, but the sheer size is the issue. This is a time to watch from the cliff, not paddle out.

After that fury, it drops back down. Saturday, August 15th morning is a standout. The wind goes glassy, just a slight air from the east at 3 mph. The swell has backed off to a solid 10ft at 15 seconds from the southwest. The energy is still strong at 3788. This is the pick of the week, clean, powerful, and manageable for those with some experience. The offshore wind will have it looking like a postcard.

Sunday and Monday, August 16th and 17th, the wind turns onshore from the south, which will mess up the surface. The swell is still 7ft, but the conditions are not great. It’s a waiting game.

Tuesday, August 18th morning sees the wind turn offshore again from the northeast, with a glassy morning. The swell has dropped to 4ft but has a nice 14-second period. It’s smaller, but clean. A good option for a longboard or a fun, cruisy session.

Wednesday, August 19th is another day to circle. Offshore winds from the north-northeast, with a clean 6ft southwest swell at 16 seconds. The energy is moderate, and the conditions are looking fun. Good, clean, lined-up waves.

Thursday the 20th is smaller, around 4ft, but still clean. The energy is weaker, so it might be a bit slow. Friday the 21st has more size, 6ft, but the period drops to 13-14 seconds. It’s still clean, but the quality is just okay.

The final weekend, August 22nd and 23rd, looks like a fade. Saturday the 22nd is small, with the swell dropping below 2ft. The wind is light, but it’s not worth getting too excited about. Sunday the 23rd sees a new pulse of 7ft, but the wind is up from the west at 16 mph and rainy. That’s a messy one. Given the size and the onshore wind, this might be a better day for the kite surfers than the paddle surfers.

So, in short: the standout is Saturday morning, August 15th for clean, powerful conditions. Also, keep Tuesday afternoon the 11th and Wednesday the 19th in mind for a solid, clean session. The big swells from the 12th to the 14th are for the brave, but probably not for Fairhaven. The rest is a mix of small waves and sketchy winds. Keep your eyes on that forecast, it can change.

Rusty.

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