Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater Bay surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, SW swell with 541 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater Bay in the next 16 days are 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
Well, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next week and a half is pretty grim for a paddle. We’ve got a long stretch of either flat, weak, or messy conditions. The real action doesn’t look like it’s going to kick off until the very end of the month, and even then, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
For the first nine days from Thursday, 20 August right through to Friday, 28 August, it’s essentially a write-off. The swell is either tiny, or when it does show a bit of height, the wind is howling onshore or cross-shore, chopping everything to bits. It’s a proper early-season lull, and you’re better off waxing your board and waiting.
The first glimmer of hope comes on Saturday morning, 29 August. We’ve got a pulse of 6ft swell from the west, with a period of 7 seconds. It’s not huge, but the kicker here is a clean, offshore breeze from the northwest. The combined energy is a solid 538 (moderate), so there’s some grunt in the water. This is the standout for the whole period. Freshwater Bay is a reef and point set-up, so it should handle this swell direction well. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so a 3/2mm wetsuit will be fine. Keep in mind, this spot is fairly consistent, and crowds are sometimes an issue, so get out early for the cleanest lines.
Sunday, 30 August, the swell bumps up to 8ft from the southwest, but the wind swings onshore from the southwest, making it choppy and poor. That one is for the experts only, and even then, it’s messy. Monday, 31 August, stays around the 7ft mark from the west-southwest, but it’s cross-shore wind, so it’ll be a lumpy, cross-chop mess. The energy is still strong (325), but the quality won’t be there.
After that, we fade out quickly. From Tuesday, 1 September, into the first week of September, the swell drops right back down to 3ft and smaller. Winds look a bit better – some clean offshore breezes on Wednesday morning, 2 September – but the swell is just too small to get excited about. It’s a classic end-of-winter fade.
So, bottom line: if you’re keen, your best bet is that Saturday morning, 29 August. Don’t sleep on it. The rest of the window is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu morning, calm by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, strong winds from the ENE by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 6 | E 4 | WSW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 10 | E 6 | SW 9 | E 6 | E 5 | ESE 5 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 226 | 74 | 14 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 160 | 3 | 169 | 52 | 24 | 247 | 203 | 96 | 103 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | off |
High Tide | 4:18AM1.98m | 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 | 9:46AM0.79m | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 39 |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 3 | WSW 6 | E 4 | W 10 | W 9 | — | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 4 | — | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | WSW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 74 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 19 | 20 | 103 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | — | WSW 6 | W 9 | WSW 10 | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | SW 8 | SW 8 | — | — | WSW 9 | SE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 9 | 8 | — | 4 | 1 | 9 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | 8 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 8 | — | W 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | — | W 9 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | — | NNE 3 | WSW 6 | NE 3 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | E 3 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | ESE 5 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | — |
| kJ | 115 | 226 | — | 4 | 15 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 160 | 266 | 169 | 52 | 24 | 247 | 203 | 96 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 483 | 268 | 15 | 187 | 116 | 167 | 167 | 241 | 216 | 269 | 282 | 198 | 393 | 284 | 306 | 116 | 248 | 110 | 116 | 152 | 0 |
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.
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