Freshwater West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at the surf that's on the cards for the next couple of weeks. I've been staring at the charts and, well, it's a bit of a mixed bag out there. We've got a run of solid, promising swell, but the wind is going to be our biggest enemy for a good stretch of it. We're gonna have to be patient and pick our moments.

The first thing you need to know is that the start of this period looks pretty grim for any surfing. Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th have a bit of small, weak swell in the water, nothing over 1ft, with periods of just 7 to 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak (62), and it's just not going to be worth getting wet. We're looking at a good few days of nothing until things start to pick up.

The swell starts to build on Friday the 28th, but it's accompanied by strong, onshore winds, making a mess of things. By Saturday the 29th, the swell is pushing 6ft to 8ft, and the energy is ramping up (279), but with 25-35 mph winds blowing straight onshore, it's going to be a complete washing machine. This is more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day, to be honest. It's not until Wednesday the 2nd of September that we finally get a break in the wind. The swell drops back to around 3ft, but we get near-glassy conditions with a light NE breeze in the morning. It's surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Now, if you can hold out, things get a whole lot more interesting towards the end of the run. A big, strong groundswell is forecast to fill in for Thursday the 10th of September. The swell is expected to be a solid 8ft in the morning, pushing 10ft by the afternoon, with a period of 8-9 seconds. The combined energy is looking strong, hitting 919 and then 1055. Crucially, the wind looks like it will finally play ball, with a light offshore NE breeze in the morning and a light cross-offshore NNE breeze in the afternoon. That's the standout window of the whole forecast. The conditions are looking prime for experienced surfers. It's a long way off, so we'll need to keep an eye on it, but it's a very promising sign.

As for the break itself, we're talking about Freshwater-West (Pembrokeshire Coast). It's a beach and reef set-up that's exposed to the west, and it can handle a good deal of size. Look for the bigger swell to really light it up. This spot is a consistent wave, but on Thursday the 10th, the crowd might be a factor, so be prepared to share the water. It's a proper setup for the bigger swell that's coming our way.

The water temperature right now is around 64°F, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year. Not a dramatic difference, but noticeable.

So, for the next couple of weeks, the message is simple: the early part is a write-off. The middle part is mediocre. But keep your eyes on the horizon for Thursday the 10th of September. That’s the one that has the potential to be something special. The long-range stuff is always a bit of a gamble, but if those winds stay light, it could be a day to remember. Be patient, conserve your energy, and wait for that window.

Rusty out.

Read more