
Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater Bay surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, E swell with 141 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.
Well, to be straight with you, the outlook for Freshwater Bay over the next sixteen days is a bit of a dud. We're looking at a long stretch of nothing special, with a lot of poor surf conditions and tiny waves. For the first week, it's a real struggle. The swell is practically non-existent—flat spells and ankle-biters are the norm. The combined wave energy is mostly in the single digits or low teens, which is weak. The water temperature is sitting at 70°, which is a massive 8° warmer than usual for this time of year. That's very unusual. For the first few days, the wind is a mess, with strong cross-shore breezes and choppy conditions. There's a bit of a sniff of something on Wednesday the 30th of July, with a 3ft swell from the WSW, but it's a short-period 4-second windswell and the wind is all wrong. It's just not worth getting wet for.
The first real sign of life pops up on Monday the 3rd of August. The morning sees a 3ft swell from the East with a combined energy of 46, and clean conditions thanks to a cross-offshore breeze from the NE. That's the best we've seen. Tuesday the 4th of August has a similar setup in the afternoon—3ft from the East, energy at 56, and light cross-offshore winds. It's small, but it's clean. For a spot like Freshwater Bay, which is a reef and point break that's fairly consistent, this is a glimmer. The optimum swell direction is SW, so this East swell is a bit of a mismatch, but the clean conditions might still make it fun for a longboard or a fish. The crowds can be an issue here sometimes, so be prepared for that.
The run continues into the second week with more of the same small, clean slop. The swell stays tiny, never really getting above 3ft, and the energy levels are low. The morning of Friday the 7th of August has a 3ft swell from the ESE, but it's blown out by a 12 mph onshore wind. The morning of Saturday the 8th of August sees a 3ft WSW swell, but with a cross-onshore wind, it's messy. The best of a bad bunch might be the morning of Monday the 10th of August, with a 1ft swell from the WSW and a cross-offshore wind, but it's just too small to get excited about. The combined energy is only 12. The second half of the forecast is a lot of the same—tiny bumps and wind.
There really isn't a standout session here. The only half-decent window is the 3rd and 4th of August, where the swell is at its biggest and the wind is clean. But even then, we're talking about 3ft surf. It's not a time to be planning a trip. The combined energy of all swells directed here is weak to moderate at best, never hitting the 100 mark. It's a frustrating period, but for this area, a blank run like this can happen. If you're desperate for a paddle, the 3rd of August morning is the one to try, but keep your expectations low.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 5 | W 10 | WSW 4 | W 4 | WSW 5 | SW 3 | W 12 | W 4 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | SW 9 | E 5 | E 6 | SW 8 | E 6 | E 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 26 | 35 | 141 | 17 | 41 | 98 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 11:59AM2.29m | 11:59PM2.39m | 12:33PM2.38m | 00:32AM2.44m | 1:07PM2.43m | 1:06AM2.45m | 1:42PM2.45m | 1:40AM2.42m | 2:16PM2.44m | 2:14AM2.35m | 2:52PM2.39m | 2:50AM2.27m | 3:28PM2.33m | 3:30AM2.18m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:56PM0.43m | 5:18AM0.14m | 5:30PM0.37m | 5:50AM0.06m | 6:04PM0.33m | 6:23AM0.02m | 6:38PM0.32m | 6:57AM0.02m | 7:14PM0.34m | 7:32AM0.07m | 7:52PM0.39m | 8:11AM0.17m | 8:35PM0.48m | ||||||||
5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | |
— | 8:55 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 21 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 5 | W 10 | W 10 | W 4 | WSW 5 | — | W 9 | W 4 | SW 10 | WSW 4 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 7 |
— | — | 21 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | — | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 11 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | W 11 | — | WSW 9 | WSW 4 | ENE 3 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 2 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | SW 3 | NW 4 | NNW 3 | W 3 | NNW 3 | NE 3 | — | — | E 4 | E 5 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 |
— | 2 | — | 6 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 26 | 35 | 141 | 143 | 41 | 98 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 268 | 600 | 268 | 268 | 346 | 284 | 279 | 652 | 367 | 284 | 810 | 216 | 216 | 282 | 198 | 216 | 27 | 27 | 108 | 23 | 18 |
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.










