Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Fairhaven’s got cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year—nothing to write home about, just your standard summer chill.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a lull. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t show up until Tuesday morning, the 11th. Before that, Monday the 10th is a write-off with messy, rainy, cross-on conditions and poor surf.

So, Tuesday the 11th morning is our first real window. We’ve got a solid 7ft SW groundswell rolling in with a long 14-second period, and a decent cross-off breeze from the NW. The combined energy is strong at 1711, meaning there’s some punch behind it. The waves will be clean, but with that long period and beach break setup, it might be a bit straight and tricky. The consistency is rare here, so don’t expect endless sets, but the quality should be there for a patient surfer.

Wednesday the 12th is a bit of a wildcard. The morning is a total no-go with a fresh 19 mph cross-on wind and lumpy 10ft surf—that’s just ugly. But then Wednesday afternoon... whoa. The swell jumps to a hefty 13ft from the WSW, period still solid at 17 seconds, and the wind goes light and cross-shore. That’s a massive amount of energy (13335). Thing is, this break rarely handles that kind of size; it’s more of a beginner spot that’s gonna be way too big for most. This is strictly for the experts only, and even then, it’s a rare, powerful beast. Keep an eye on it, but don’t take the grommets.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are much the same story: still huge, still too big for this break. The swell hangs around 13-15ft with clean conditions, but it’s a setup that’s pushing the limits hard. The energy readings are off the charts (16522 on Thursday morning). Unless you’re a seasoned charger with a big-wave gun, give it a miss. It’s more of a spectacle than a session.

We get a bit of a drop Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th, but the conditions are only marginal. The swell drops to a more manageable 7-10ft, but the winds are funky—onshore or unknown—and the quality just isn’t there for a standout session. The energy drops too (around 1600-3600), so it’s all a bit average.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. After a pretty average week, we get a proper standout. Tuesday the 18th of August is the one to circle. Morning and afternoon both look tidy. We’ve got a 5ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and the wind is light and cross-off from the NW. The combined energy is 1624, so plenty of grunt. The forecast calls for excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The waves will be clean, well-shaped, and with that offshore flow, you’re looking at some proper lined-up sets.

Wednesday the 19th is the cherry on top. Clear skies, light offshore breezes from the N and NNE, and a clean 4-5ft SW swell. This is the pick of the whole forecast for Fairhaven. The energy is lower (684-922), but the quality is spot on. This is that rare moment when the stars align and this break actually shows its best face. Expect very good, clean surf with a slight air for the afternoon session. Crowds are possible given the quality, so get there early.

After that, there’s a bit of a drop-off. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st have small, ordinary surf (2-3ft). Saturday the 22nd gets a jump to 7ft, but the wind is howling at 19 mph offshore. It’ll be clean but bumpy and tricky, with only marginal conditions.

The final standout in the long-range is Sunday the 23rd of August. This one is promising but a week and a half out, so keep your fingers crossed. We’re looking at a 10ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period, and a cross-off breeze. The energy is high at 4745. This is excellent for experienced surfers, with clean, powerful lines. Later in the day it drops to 8ft, still clean and fun.

From the 24th onward, it gets messy again with onshore winds and small, poor surf. So to sum it up: the first week is a mixed bag with a couple of massive, expert-only days. The real sweet spot for a quality, doable session is Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th. If you’re looking further ahead, Sunday the 23rd is worth dreaming on.

Rusty, signing off.

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