Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater Bay surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, E swell with 229 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Freshwater Bay this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater Bay in the next 16 days are 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, this is Rusty.
Look, I'm gonna be straight with you – the next 16 days at Freshwater Bay (reef and point) are a real mixed bag, and honestly, there's a lot of flat, wind-affected dribble to wade through before we see anything that gets the heart racing. The water temp is sitting at 70° which is a massive 7° warmer than usual for this time of year – that's weirdly warm, like wearing a shorty in what should be a steamer season.
The first real blip of interest doesn't come until Saturday the 29th of August. For the nine days before that, we're looking at tiny waves, mostly under 3 ft, and a lot of that is junked up by moderate to fresh cross-shore or onshore winds. Thursday the 20th has a short-period 4 ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is cross-off at 15 mph and the energy is weak (100). The next day, Friday the 21st, drops to a pathetic 1 ft. Saturday the 22nd is even smaller. Sunday the 23rd is glassy, but it's 0.3 ft – you could paddle a kayak. Monday the 24th blows up with a 22 mph cross-shore easterly and a 5 ft Easterly swell, but the period is a weak 6 seconds and the energy is moderate (171) – it's just lumpy, bumpy, no good. Tuesday the 25th, Wednesday the 26th, Thursday the 27th – all small, all onshore or cross-shore, all poor. Friday the 28th picks up a bit with 6 ft from the SW and energy of 293, but a 15 mph cross-shore wind and a 6-second period means it's a messy, grovelly affair.
Now, here's the standout – and it's a long way off, so keep your fingers crossed. Saturday the 29th of August morning. The swell is pumping in at 10 ft from the SW with a 9-second period, which is a solid groundswell, and the energy is absolutely cooking at 1235. The wind is a cross-offshore from the west at 12 mph, which means the face of the wave should be clean. This is the only real window of quality in the whole forecast. The swell direction is close to the optimum SW direction for the break. It's a big swell, pushing well over 8 ft, so this is strictly for the experienced crew – beginners, stay on the beach. The set waves will have serious power, and on a reef and point set-up, it should produce some well-shaped, dredging barrels. The period is moderate, so the lulls between sets might be a bit longer, making the paddle out easier. This is the one to circle on the calendar, but remember, it's over a week out, so treat it as a promising gamble, not a sure thing.
That afternoon on the 29th, the wind swings to a cross-shore WSW at 19 mph, the energy drops to 993, and it gets lumpy – the morning window is the key.
After the 29th, it's back to the doldrums. Sunday the 30th has a 3 ft onshore slop, Monday the 31st is tiny again, and Tuesday the 1st of September sees a brief 5 ft from the SE with a north-northwest offshore at 6 mph, giving clean conditions, but the energy is only 101 and the period is a short 5 seconds – it's surfable but ordinary. Wednesday the 2nd has a fresh offshore wind from the NW at 22 mph and a 5 ft SW swell, but it's still short-period and the energy is weak (114). The rest of the week into early September is a sad tale of 1 ft to 1 ft dribble.
So, bottom line: endure a long, flat, windy run until the 29th of August. That Saturday morning is your one real shot at something memorable – a solid 10 ft SW groundswell with clean offshore winds. Be ready to jump on it, because after that, it's back to the waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu morning, calm by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the E by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | ESE 4 | E 6 | SW 9 | E 6 | E 5 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 5 | SW 6 | SW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
100 | 218 | 74 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 163 | 3 | 148 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 45 | 133 | 109 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:42PM2.00m | 5:06AM1.84m | 5:32PM1.89m | 6:10AM1.75m | 6:40PM1.84m | 7:52AM1.76m | 8:18PM1.89m | 9:27AM1.88m | 9:31PM2.03m | 10:16AM2.05m | 10:16PM2.18m | 10:53AM2.21m | 10:53PM2.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:28PM0.91m | 10:59AM0.98m | 00:09AM0.99m | 12:44PM1.04m | 1:35AM0.91m | 1:56PM0.95m | 2:30AM0.76m | 2:45PM0.82m | 3:12AM0.58m | 3:25PM0.67m | 3:48AM0.39m | 4:00PM0.52m | |||||||||
6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:05 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 14 | 4 |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | ENE 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | E 4 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | E 4 | SW 8 | W 10 | SW 6 | SW 8 |
— | — | 74 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 99 | 109 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | E 4 | W 8 | — | W 10 |
— | — | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 6 | NE 3 | WSW 6 | ENE 3 | ENE 4 | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | — | SSW 2 | SSW 5 | SW 6 | — |
100 | 218 | 85 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 11 | 163 | 308 | 148 | 29 | — | 1 | 45 | 133 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 483 | 268 | 15 | 187 | 116 | 167 | 168 | 241 | 198 | 266 | 269 | 212 | 595 | 248 | 351 | 269 | 266 | 216 | 221 | 198 | 110 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Isle of Wight | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Freshwater Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Freshwater Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Freshwater Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Freshwater Bay 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 (Freshwater Bay) 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 Freshwater Bay 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.
Freshwater Bay is 16 km (10 miles) from Newport. If you plan a holiday in Isle of Wight, look for hotels and other accommodation in Newport. Newport has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











