Harlyn Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

To be straight with you, the vibe for Harlyn over the next couple of weeks is *pretty flat*. There’s no real surf on offer to start, and the forecast looks bleak for a proper session until we get into early September.

Right now, through the remainder of August, it’s small, weak, and messy. The first couple of days have just tiny 0.7 ft to 1 ft waves rolling in from the WSW with combined energy that’s barely registering, so it’s about as calm as a lake. Even the light winds early on Sunday the 23rd (about 6 mph from the ENE) are just cross-shore, leaving the surface clean but without any push.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th aren’t any better—still flat, and that easterly breeze starts getting a bit stronger, making it lumpy in the mornings. We do see a tiny bump to maybe 2 ft on Tuesday afternoon, but trust me, you won’t be rushing.

On Wednesday the 26th, the morning is glassy with a light offshore from the south (9 mph) but the swell is still tiny at around 2 ft from the west with a period of just 8 seconds, no power behind it.

Thursday the 27th sees the first somewhat surfable waves: about 4 ft to 5 ft from the SW with that period climbing to 9 seconds. The combined energy finally gets some legs. The offshore wind is light at 9 mph from the south, so the surface stays clean. It’s still pretty average, but for Harlyn, it’s the first window where you might get a few waves.

After that, things go downhill again—Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th get chopped up by strong cross-onshore winds and building swell (8 ft) that’s too messy to be fun. By Sunday the 30th, you’ve got 28 mph cross-shore winds and lumpy, disorganised surf. Not good.

The first week of September stays flat until Friday the 4th. Then there’s a real standout on the morning of Friday the 4th of September: a solid 8 ft swell straight from the west, with a 10-second period and combined energy hitting 1223 – proper power. The wind is offshore from the SSW at 12 mph, keeping it clean and lined up. That’s Harlyn at its best on this forecast, but for sure those 8 ft sets are expert territory – not a beginner’s day.

That afternoon drops to around 7 ft from the west, with a light cross-shore breeze and some chop creeping in, so it’s a bit more mixed.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th stay chunky with 7 ft to 8 ft west swell, but winds shift onshore or cross-offshore and get gusty (15-22 mph), so it’s not as clean.

Monday the 7th of September is a write-off: 11 ft west swell with near gale force winds at 31 mph, making it a total mess. Not for paddling—maybe more for the kite crew.

So, if you’re holding out for the good stuff, keep your eye on Friday morning the 4th of September. It’s the only real highlight in this whole 16-day stretch, and it comes with solid size and clean, offshore wind.

Water temp is about 65°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year – that anomaly of about 3°F means it’s noticeably mild, so you might get away with a thinner wetsuit.

Stay patient, Harlyn will come alive eventually.

Rusty.

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