Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Freshwater and Harbord over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the first week and a half is a real struggle. We’ve got next to no swell and the conditions are mostly messy. The water temp is sitting at 64°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. It’s a frustrating start, but keep the faith – things do start to look up later on.

For the first stretch, from Thursday the 3rd right through until the 13th, it’s proper lean. We’re talking tiny, weak waves, most days under 1 ft, with a combined swell energy that barely hits double digits. The wind is all over the shop – cross, onshore, cross-off – but nothing is coming together to make it worthwhile. There’s a stretch of several days with nothing to recommend. You’d be better off waxing the longboard and waiting.

Then, around Monday the 14th, we see a bit of a pulse. The morning of the 14th brings a 3 ft swell from the NE, with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 110 (moderate energy), and the wind is a light cross-off from the N. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. That afternoon, the swell bumps up to 5 ft but the period drops to 5 seconds – that’s a short, weak windswell. Not great.

Tuesday the 15th actually offers a bit of hope. The morning sees a 4 ft NE swell, 8 seconds, with a clean offshore wind from the NNW, and the energy is a solid 135. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and rideable. The afternoon holds similar with a 3 ft NE swell. For a beginner-friendly spot like Freshwater and Harbord, this is the most promising window in the whole forecast.

The standout, if you ask me, is the Tuesday morning (15th September). The swell is 4 ft from the NE, with a moderate 8-second period, and the wind is offshore from the NNW. The combined energy is 135, which is a nice moderate push. The break is sheltered and consistent, and the offshore wind will keep it glassy. It’s a solid option for a fun, clean session. Crowds are often here, so don’t expect it to be empty.

The morning of Wednesday the 16th is also worth a look – similar 3 ft NE swell, offshore NNW wind, light rain, and 98 combined energy. It’s a decent follow-up to Tuesday.

From Thursday the 17th, the swell size jumps to 5 ft-6 ft from the SSE, but with a short 6-second period. The wind is strong offshore from the WNW, which will clean it up, but the short period and size mean it’ll be a bit of a messy, lumpy wave. The combined energy is strong (194-214), but the quality is poor. This setup is more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfing.

The final few days on the 18th are a write-off with strong onshore winds and messy conditions.

So, to sum it up: the first week and a half is a near-total blank. The best bet is the Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th September, with clean, offshore winds and a small but rideable swell. That’s your window.

Rusty

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