
Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater Bay surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, E swell with 120 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Freshwater Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater Bay in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – this 16-day window for Freshwater Bay looks like a total write-off. There’s just no surf worth paddling out for. The whole forecast is made up of “poor surf conditions” from start to finish, with scores that never get off the floor. Not a single session gets a recommendation, so if you’re hanging for a wave, you’re out of luck for a good stretch. The first record kicks off on Saturday morning, the 1st of August, and it’s already a dud, and from there it’s a flat, choppy, or messy run all the way through to Sunday morning, the 16th of August. That’s a solid 16-day gap with nothing to offer.
The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing weird going on there. The winds are a real mixed bag – some mornings start glassy or with light offshore vibes, like the NNE breeze at 3 mph on Friday morning, the 7th, which gives a glassy surface, but the swell is barely a ripple at 1 ft with a weak 6-second period. The combined energy is tiny, around 17 (weak), so there’s no push. Other days get hammered by strong onshore or cross-shore winds, like the SW wind at 25 mph on the 16th, making it lumpy and messy. The swell rarely gets above 2 ft, with a few exceptions: Wednesday afternoon, the 5th, sees 4 ft from the WSW, but the period is a pathetic 5 seconds, the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, and the energy is only 83 (weak). That’s more of a windblown mess than a surfable wave. Thursday morning, the 6th, has 3 ft from the WSW with a 7-second period and a clean cross-off wind, but the energy is still just 99 (weak), and the wave comment is still a big fat “poor”. It’s frustrating because the setup looks like it could be fun for kite surfing on those windier days, but for paddle surfing, there’s just nothing.
Freshwater Bay is a reef and point break, exposed to the SW swell, and it’s fairly consistent, but when the swell is this small and the wind is all over the shop, it’s a bust. The optimum swell direction is SW, but the few pulses that come in from the WSW are too short-period and weak to do anything. The crowds are “sometimes” an issue, but that’s not relevant when there’s no waves. Honestly, this is one of those blank runs where the area just isn’t firing. The forecasts can change, but for now, leave the board at home. This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon night, min 16°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 4 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | E 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 84 | 32 | 83 | 111 | 99 | 61 | 31 | 15 | 4 | 90 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:42PM2.45m | 1:40AM2.42m | 2:16PM2.44m | 2:14AM2.35m | 2:52PM2.39m | 2:50AM2.27m | 3:28PM2.33m | 3:30AM2.18m | 4:09PM2.24m | 4:17AM2.08m | 4:56PM2.16m | 5:15AM2.00m | 5:54PM2.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:23AM0.02m | 6:38PM0.32m | 6:57AM0.02m | 7:14PM0.34m | 7:32AM0.07m | 7:52PM0.39m | 8:11AM0.17m | 8:35PM0.48m | 8:55AM0.31m | 9:24PM0.59m | 9:48AM0.49m | 10:27PM0.70m | 10:58AM0.66m | 11:51PM0.73m | |||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | |
— | 8:51 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | SW 10 | WSW 4 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | E 5 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 |
3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 15 | 4 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | — | WSW 9 | — | — | SW 10 | WSW 9 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 |
2 | — | 8 | — | — | 4 | 15 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | WSW 3 | NNW 3 | NE 3 | — | ENE 3 | — | — | W 4 | WSW 4 | SW 3 | WSW 7 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 5 | — | — | E 2 | E 5 |
2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 12 | 2 | 5 | 84 | 32 | 83 | 111 | 99 | 61 | — | — | 1 | 90 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 287 | 303 | 304 | 304 | 268 | 196 | 182 | 218 | 218 | 285 | 268 | 268 | 285 | 268 | 201 | 24 | 260 | 85 | 600 | 222 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Isle of Wight | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











