Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surf crew, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks at Freshwater and Harbord. Gotta be straight with you: this is a pretty bleak run. We’re looking at a long stretch of underwhelming conditions. The first solid chance you’ll see won't come until Saturday the 29th of August, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about.

For the core of this week, from Monday the 24th right through to Friday the 28th, it’s mostly a write-off. Tiny swell, messy wind, and the wave comment says it all: “poor surf conditions.” We’ve got a mix of cross-shore and onshore winds that’ll keep things lumpy and uninviting. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting between 40 and 364 (moderate at best on Tuesday morning, but still sloppy). It’s just not worth paddling out.

The first real glimmer comes on Saturday the 29th, and that’s our standout. Early morning we’ve got a moment of glass with a light WSW breeze, and the swell ticks up just a bit to 3ft from the SSE. Period is a modest 9 seconds, but the combined energy hits 206 (moderate), and the wave comment finally says “surfable waves.” It’s clean and glassy for the early session, which is a rare treat. Remember, this is a sheltered spot, so that SSE swell has a chance to wrap in nicely. The water’s sitting around 63°F, about 1°F cooler than average for late August, so not drastically off, but you’ll feel a slight chill.

Sunday the 30th morning offers another glassy window. Swell drops back to 2ft from the SSE with combined energy at 107 (weak to moderate). Again, “surfable but very ordinary.” These are small-wave days for the patient surfer, and with the break being consistent and offering a sheltered setup, you might get a few fun ones if you’re on a log. Crowds can be an issue here often, so expect company on any half-decent wave.

Looking further out, from Monday the 1st of September onward, it gets small again and stays that way. Winds swing offshore on Tuesday the 1st with a 2ft ENE swell and an 11-second period (a bit longer period, suggesting a little more push), but the energy is just 88 (weak). After that, it’s tiny twitching waves with combined energy barely cracking 70. The forecast confidence for the second week is low – things could change, but right now it looks like a long flat spell. There’s a solid gap of nearly featureless days from the 1st through the 8th.

So, bottom line: best bet is early Saturday the 29th for a glassy, rideable 3ft SSE swell. Sunday morning is a backup. After that, it’s a waiting game. Stay patient.

Rusty.

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