Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about Fairhaven. This spot is a rare one, a beginner-friendly wave that doesn’t break often, so when it lines up, it’s a special little window. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up. It kicks off Friday morning, July 10th, with a clean 6 ft SW swell and a very long period of 15 seconds, so classic groundswell. The wind is light off from the NNW, making for excellent, clean conditions. This is the standout of the first few days, perfect for an experienced surfer to get a taste of that long-period energy – with a warning that a long period like this can make the wave break a little straight in a beach setup. The combined energy is strong at 1343.

Friday afternoon stays clean, 5 ft SW, still that 15-second period. Saturday, July 11th, drops a bit to 4 ft, but the wind picks up hard from the north at 25 km/h, still offshore. It’s clean but that fresh breeze will make it bumpy. The energy drops to moderate (642). Saturday afternoon gets even windier, 30 km/h, and the swell fades to 4 ft. It’s not great.

Then Sunday, July 12th, the ocean roars to life. The swell jumps to 20 ft from the WSW with a combined energy of 14965 – that’s very strong wave energy. The wind is cross-off, but this is way too big for Fairhaven. It’s an expert-only proposition, and honestly, for a fairly exposed beach break, this setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. That massive swell hangs around through Monday and Tuesday, July 13th and 14th, with 11 ft to 16 ft swells and very strong energy readings (5850 up to 20139). The wind isn’t ideal, either cross or cross-on. It’s a write-off for paddle surfing.

The surf drops back to a more manageable level on Wednesday, July 15th. A 10 ft SW swell, with a light cross-off wind, makes for excellent, clean waves for experienced surfers. The energy is still strong (3813). Thursday, July 16th, is another beauty. The morning is glassy, with a 7 ft SW swell and a light breeze from the WNW. The energy is moderate-strong (1606). Friday, July 17th, brings a 8 ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, light offshore wind, and clean conditions. This is another standout. The energy is strong (2602).

The weekend of July 18th and 19th sees the swell fade. Saturday is clean with offshore wind, 6 ft to 5 ft, solid enough. Sunday morning is only 3 ft and weak, with a fresh 30 km/h offshore wind. By Sunday afternoon, it’s a tiny 2 ft with a very long 18-second period, but the wind is fresh and cross-off. It’s a poor surf.

The following week, starting Monday, July 20th, is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell is 5 ft but the wind is strong and cross or cross-on, making it choppy and poor. Tuesday, July 21st, has 7 ft waves but the wind is cross-on, so it’s not great. Wednesday, July 22nd, improves with a light cross-off wind and 5 ft to 4 ft swell, clean and rideable. Thursday, July 23rd, is a real highlight. Excellent conditions with a 7 ft to 8 ft SW swell, a long 16-second period, and light cross-off wind. The energy is strong (2503 to 3047). This is right up there with the best of the run.

The very end of the window, July 25th, Saturday morning, has a clean 7 ft SW swell with a moderate offshore wind. It’s a solid finish.

So, the standout days are Friday July 10th, Thursday July 16th, Friday July 17th, and Thursday July 23rd. For a break that rarely breaks, this is a promising run. Just remember, when it’s over 8 ft, it’s expert territory, and any of those long-period swells (over 15 seconds) might be better on a reef or point than a beach break, but when it’s clean and 5 ft to 8 ft, Fairhaven is a rare treat.

Rusty.

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