Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater Bay surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, SW swell with 1,634 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM. 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Freshwater Bay look like a proper battle. We’ve got a lot of days where the wind is just going to ruin things, but there are a few windows where it could get really interesting, especially if you’re an experienced surfer willing to wait for a break in the weather.
The overall pattern is a long, drawn-out stretch of messy, blown-out conditions. There’s a big gap of poor surf quality from now through to the start of September. The first real hope comes on Monday, 31 August morning, but it’s only a marginal call. After that, there’s another lull until Thursday, 3 September morning, which again is poor. It’s a tough run.
The first standout that’s worth circling on your calendar is Monday morning, 31 August. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the W at 19 mph, and we’ve got a 7 ft swell coming from the WSW with a moderate 8-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 560. This is a reef and point break, so that longer period groundswell energy will wrap in nicely, giving you proper shaped waves. The water is sitting at a very unusual 69°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. Crowds are possible here from time to time. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best call in the near term for intermediate surfers.
Then, if you can hold out over a week, Tuesday, 8 September, is where things get serious. On the morning, we’re looking at a solid 10 ft swell from the WSW with an 8-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off at 22 mph. The combined energy is strong at 1338. By the afternoon, it jumps to a beastly 12 ft swell from the WSW, period 9 seconds, and the combined energy is very strong at 2047. The wind stays clean cross-off at 19 mph. This is big, powerful stuff – over 8 ft, so it’s strictly for experts. The break quality here with a clean cross-off wind on that reef and point setup could be truly memorable. That morning session on the 8th of September is the standout call for the whole period.
There are a couple of other mornings, like Friday, 4 September with an 8 ft swell and clean wind, or Monday, 7 September afternoon with a 6 ft swell and clean wind, that are worthy mentions but not the main event. Everything else is a write-off: either too small, blown out by onshore winds, or just messy cross-chop. Don’t waste your energy on the days with strong cross-onshore winds and stormy conditions, especially around 29 August and 12 September – that’s more kite-surfing weather than paddle surfing.
Keep an eye on the long-range forecast for that 8 September window. It’s over a week away, so not locked in, but it has the potential to be the real deal.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Mon night, strong winds from the SW by Wed afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | SW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
222 | 257 | 190 | 1412 | 990 | 300 | 94 | 638 | 560 | 354 | 135 | 61 | 19 | 27 | 13 | 88 | 530 | 158 | 142 | 126 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:02AM2.49m | 12:35PM2.54m | 00:37AM2.52m | 1:09PM2.56m | 1:12AM2.49m | 1:44PM2.53m | 1:48AM2.43m | 2:20PM2.45m | 2:28AM2.34m | 2:59PM2.34m | 3:13AM2.22m | 3:44PM2.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:06PM0.27m | 5:24AM-0.04m | 5:39PM0.19m | 5:57AM-0.10m | 6:14PM0.14m | 6:32AM-0.10m | 6:50PM0.14m | 7:08AM-0.03m | 7:29PM0.20m | 7:48AM0.11m | 8:11PM0.31m | 8:32AM0.31m | 9:00PM0.48m | |||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | — | WSW 5 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 135 | 61 | — | 27 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | SW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | NW 3 | — | WSW 4 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 |
222 | 257 | 190 | 1412 | 990 | 300 | 94 | 638 | 560 | 354 | 1 | — | 19 | — | 13 | 88 | 530 | 158 | 142 | 126 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 112 | 433 | 436 | 249 | 112 | 109 | 202 | 251 | 111 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 248 | 169 | 608 | 737 | 472 | 826 | 346 | 268 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Isle of Wight | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











