Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater Bay surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 6s period, WSW swell with 270 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 1.9m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, switching over to feet and Fahrenheit for you. Let’s break down what Freshwater Bay is looking like.
It’s a long, dry spell, mate. From Wednesday, August 19th, right through the end of the month, it’s mostly tiny and messy. On Thursday the 20th, there’s a bit of a pulse – 4ft swell from the WSW, but with a short, weak 6-second period and cross-off wind. It’s clean, but the energy is low (27) – not really worth suiting up for. It fades fast, and Friday the 21st is back to knee-high dribble. For a week and a half, it’s pretty much a write-off.
Then, out of nowhere, Monday the 31st of August throws up a 8ft swell from the WSW with a longer 10-second period. That’s some serious energy (1068), but it’s marked as marginal, maybe tide-dependent. Cross-off winds might keep it clean, but that size is for the experienced crew only. A bit of a dark horse.
The real standout, without a doubt, is Tuesday the 1st of September. You’ve got a solid 6ft of groundswell from the WSW, 7-second period, and moderate energy (550). The wind is blowing cross-off, so the surf at Freshwater Bay (reef and point) will be clean and well-shaped. The water is roasting at 70°F – a full 8°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so just boardshorts or a spring suit. Just keep in mind, the crowd can be around sometimes, so you might have to share.
After that, it goes flat again on Wednesday the 2nd, and Thursday the 3rd has just tiny leftovers. A long wait for one or two decent days, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | E 4 | E 4 | E 3 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | E 4 | E 5 | E 6 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
27 | 61 | 169 | 93 | 270 | 53 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 57 | 60 | 1 | 13 | 2 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:02PM2.15m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:25PM0.73m | 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 | ||||||||
5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 8:19 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 19 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 5 | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | W 11 |
27 | — | — | — | — | 53 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | — | WSW 3 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 17 | 8 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 8 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | N 3 | NE 3 | WSW 6 | — | E 4 | E 4 | E 3 | — | — | — | E 4 | E 5 | E 6 | N 3 | WSW 8 | W 4 |
— | 61 | 169 | 93 | 270 | 6 | 2 | 15 | — | 10 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | 31 | 57 | 60 | 2 | 13 | 20 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 346 | 268 | 515 | 251 | 248 | 15 | 116 | 116 | 167 | 168 | 282 | 198 | 216 | 475 | 282 | 532 | 608 | 370 | 275 | 268 | 226 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Isle of Wight | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Live Wave Height (m)
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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.











