Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the first few days are a total bust. The swell is tiny, and the conditions are poor. Don’t even bother looking at the water until at least Sunday, August 9th. Even then, it’s nothing special.

Sunday, August 9th brings a little pulse. The morning has a 3ft swell from the ENE, with a 9-second period. There’s a light N breeze, so it’ll be clean. The combined energy is moderate (175). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. If you’re jonesing for a paddle, the morning is your only real shot, but don’t expect much.

Monday, August 10th is a tease. The morning shows a 5ft ENE swell with a fresh offshore WNW wind – that’s clean. But the energy is moderate (370), and the shape is likely poor. It might be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

After that, we’re looking at a long, flat run. From Tuesday, August 11th, all the way through to the 19th, it’s tiny waves, onshore or cross-onshore winds, and weak energy. The combined energy is mostly under 100. It’s a big gap of nothing.

Then, Thursday, August 20th shows a glimmer. The morning has a 3ft ENE swell, period 9 seconds, with a light N cross-offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (131). It’s the first time in over a week that the reading says “surfable” – but still very ordinary. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The best of the whole period? It’s Friday, August 21st. The morning has a 3ft ENE swell, period 7 seconds, but the wind is glassy – dead calm from the NW. That’s a rare treat and will give you a clean, smooth surface. The energy is weak (92), but the conditions are perfect for a small-wave board. That’s the session to aim for.

Saturday, August 22nd morning has a 3ft ENE swell, period 9 seconds, with a moderate N cross-offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (100). It’s surfable but still not great. The crowd at Freshwater can be there often, so you might have some company, but the waves are small enough for beginners.

Overall, this is a tough forecast. The first week is a total washout, with a big gap of flat days. The second week is promising but very small and uncertain. The best bet is the glassy morning of the 21st – that’s the one to circle on the calendar. Don’t lose hope, forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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