
Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater Bay surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, WSW swell with 207 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with WSW 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. 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 1.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a chat about what’s cooking at Freshwater Bay.
Right now, there’s nothing worth getting wet for, so you’ll need to be patient. The first proper surf appears on Friday, September 11th. That morning you’ll see a clean 4ft swell out of the WSW, period around 8 seconds, with a light WNW cross-off breeze smoothing it all out. Combined wave energy sits at 277—moderate push. The water temperature is about normal for this time of year, nothing weird. Freshwater Bay is a reef and point setup that’s fairly consistent and likes swell from the SW, so that direction is a good fit. It’s not huge, but for a Friday morning session you could snag some clean waves if you’re keen. The afternoon stays clean-ish but drops to 3ft and the wind turns cross-shore, so it’ll get a bit choppy. The morning is the pick.
Then we hit a dry spell. From Saturday the 12th through the middle of the next week, it’s mostly crud. Saturday and Sunday offer lumpy, short-period waves around 3–4ft, but the wind is all cross-shore and messy—energy barely hits 80–93. Monday and Tuesday are small and weak. Tuesday afternoon spikes to 5ft but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s messy. Wednesday the 16th through Friday the 18th stays small and clean but mostly under 3ft—frustratingly tiny. Basically a lot of flat, glassy days.
On Saturday, September 19th, we get a pulse: 7ft from the WSW with moderate energy at 355. That’s decent size, but the wind is light and cross-shore in the morning, creating little ripples. Period is only 7 seconds, so it’s windswell—not a clean groundswell—and the quality is marginal. It might actually be better for a kite surfer than a paddler if it stays lumpy. The afternoon goes cross-onshore with 5ft—ugly.
The real standout is Wednesday, September 23rd. That morning brings a clean 7ft swell from the WSW, a light offshore W breeze, and combined energy of 418—that’s strong. This is the best session of the whole outlook. Period is still only 7 seconds, so it’s punchy but short, meaning the faces might be a bit lumpy on a reef and point. But with those conditions, it’s the one to chase. The afternoon goes to a cross-shore 6ft with 355 energy—still powerful but less clean.
Thursday the 24th morning cleans up again: 5ft SW swell, light offshore NNE breeze, moderate energy at 205. A solid follow-up, though not as strong as Wednesday. Friday the 25th morning gives you 6ft from the SW with clean offshore NE wind, energy at 190—rideable but ordinary quality, and the afternoon goes onshore.
Saturday the 26th morning wraps it up: a 5ft WSW swell, clean offshore light breeze, 262 energy. A decent end to the run.
My top pick is Wednesday the 23rd morning at Freshwater Bay—7ft, offshore, clean, strong energy. The swell direction matches the optimum, and the wind makes it as pristine as you’ll get. Crowds can be a thing there, so get there early.
That’s how it’s looking.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Thu night, light winds from the WNW by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | SSW 4 | WSW 5 | W 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
207 | 132 | 67 | 58 | 80 | 97 | 80 | 61 | 28 | 17 | 41 | 16 | 42 | 105 | 182 | 38 | 54 | 25 | 11 | 17 | 5 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:54AM2.71m | 00:02AM2.67m | 12:32PM2.73m | 00:41AM2.65m | 1:07PM2.67m | 1:17AM2.57m | 1:40PM2.56m | 1:52AM2.45m | 2:11PM2.41m | 2:26AM2.29m | 2:43PM2.25m | 3:02AM2.13m | 3:18PM2.09m | 3:44AM1.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:33AM-0.18m | 4:52PM0.05m | 5:12AM-0.23m | 5:32PM-0.00m | 5:50AM-0.19m | 6:10PM0.01m | 6:28AM-0.07m | 6:47PM0.10m | 7:05AM0.11m | 7:24PM0.25m | 7:41AM0.33m | 8:02PM0.44m | 8:19AM0.57m | 8:42PM0.66m | |||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | WSW 5 | WSW 4 | W 9 | WSW 4 | — | SSE 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
70 | 132 | 67 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 28 | 3 | 41 | 3 | — | 2 | 161 | 38 | 54 | 25 | 11 | 17 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | — | WSW 9 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 17 | — | 16 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | WSW 8 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | — | — | WSW 9 | — | SSW 4 | WSW 5 | W 6 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 |
207 | 90 | — | 58 | 80 | 97 | 80 | 61 | — | — | 32 | — | 42 | 105 | 182 | 31 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 44 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 32 | 0 | 248 | 248 | 346 | 218 | 112 | 169 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 848 | 356 | 33 | 810 | 341 | 187 | 315 | 248 | 230 |
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.










