
Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater Bay surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, WSW swell with 226 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 Saturday (Sep 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here.
Let me tell you, looking at this forecast for Freshwater Bay is like watching paint dry for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a big old stretch of nothing to very little, and you’re gonna need some serious patience if you want a wave.
The first week is almost entirely flat. There’s a bit of an inside pulse on the 16th, but it’s weak, short-period slop. The wind is mostly cross-off or light, which is the only positive, but the swell energy is just not there. We’re talking ankle-biters. On the 17th, there’s a brief bump to around 5-6 feet, but it’s all over the place—jumbled and lumpy. Not worth your time. Then it just dies off again. The next few days bring nothing but tiny leftovers, with occasional long-period pulses that don’t have any push behind them. The water is a toastier-than-normal for this time of year, coming in at about 67°F, which is over 5° warmer than average—that’s a real conversation starter.
Now, heading into the second week, the winds start to turn easterly, and that’s when things get a bit more challenging. We’ve got consistent east winds blowing 20-30 mph, which is creating a messy, cross-onshore chop. There’s still some swell on the 24th and 25th, around 4-5 feet, but it’s all short-period wind swell, bumpy and uninviting. It’s the kind of surf that’s more work than it’s worth, and the crowd would have to be desperate.
Then, just when you’re ready to write the whole period off, we get a glimmer of hope. On the 30th of September, a proper SW groundswell finally shows up, with a period of 10 seconds and a solid 5-6 feet of swell. The combined energy spikes to 551, which is a strong signal. Crucially, the wind is light offshore, out of the NE, which should groom those faces into something clean and fun. This is the standout, and if you can only paddle out once in this whole window, this is the morning to do it. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy, and by the next day it’s back to the same old east-slanted mess.
So, there you have it. A long, flat spell with one decent day hiding at the very end. If that day points, you better be in the water. If not, leave your board at home and maybe take up kite surfing, because for the rest of this period, that’s about all that’s going to have any energy.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat morning, calm by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 11 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
39 | 146 | 23 | 175 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 33 | 29 | 226 | 156 | 104 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 53 | 90 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:43PM2.25m | 3:02AM2.13m | 3:18PM2.09m | 3:44AM1.98m | 4:01PM1.95m | 4:35AM1.85m | 4:56PM1.85m | 5:40AM1.77m | 6:03PM1.82m | 7:03AM1.78m | 7:23PM1.86m | 8:32AM1.89m | 8:39PM1.98m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:02PM0.44m | 8:19AM0.57m | 8:42PM0.66m | 9:00AM0.81m | 9:30PM0.87m | 9:56AM1.02m | 10:56PM1.03m | 11:56AM1.13m | 1:02AM0.98m | 1:32PM1.04m | 2:03AM0.81m | 2:22PM0.88m | 2:43AM0.61m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 7:19 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | — | WSW 11 | — | — | — | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | — | W 11 | SW 11 | WSW 5 | WSW 11 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
39 | — | 23 | — | — | — | 17 | 33 | 29 | — | 10 | 5 | 21 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 53 | 90 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | WSW 12 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 13 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | WSW 10 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | — | WSW 5 | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | ESE 3 | E 3 |
15 | 146 | 28 | 175 | 137 | 62 | 29 | 48 | 178 | 226 | 156 | 104 | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 24 | 268 | 268 | 346 | 209 | 268 | 347 | 268 | 248 | 161 | 202 | 112 | 248 | 187 | 116 | 116 | 116 | 116 | 44 | 120 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Isle of Wight | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










