Hitherhills Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for a proper paddle. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and mostly messy surf ahead. To be honest, the first real chance of anything worth getting wet for doesn’t show up until Saturday the 29th of August, and even then, it’s just barely surfable. Before that, expect a whole lot of nothing—flat spells, onshore junk, and wind that’s going to have you checking your kite gear instead of your shortboard. The water’s sitting at 73°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least the wait won't be freezing.

The one spot we’ve got any info on is Hitherhills. The swell energy is nearly non-existent, with readings mostly in the weak range for the entire period. We’re seeing a lot of short-period windswell, under 8 seconds, which just means blown-out and weak. The wind is all over the place, too, with strong breezes and cross-shore chop making things a mess.

The first 8 days are a total write-off. There’s no surf over 2ft, and it’s all riddled with onshore and cross-shore winds. Friday the 21st through Friday the 28th is a dead zone.

Then, on Saturday morning, the 29th of August, we finally see a pulse. It’s still small—around 2ft—but the wind goes light and offshore from the north, which will clean things up. The swell direction is from the southeast, which is okay, but it’s still a short period swell (8 seconds). It’s the only time in the whole window that gets a “surfable” tag, but let’s not get carried away. It’s a knee-high dribble at best, and the break is fairly consistent, so you might snag a few soft little ones if you’re desperate on a log. Crowds could be possible, but honestly, with these conditions, you’ll probably have it to yourself.

After that, it’s right back to the grind. The winds stay onshore and the swell drops back down to nothing through the end of the month and into the first week of September. There’s a tiny bit of long-period energy (10-12 seconds) in the mix on September 2nd and 3rd, but it’s less than 2ft, so it’s not going to do anything. The second week outlook is just as barren, with onshore winds and tiny, weak swells. A couple of days show a pulse from the SSW at under 3ft, but with 5-second periods and 25 mph winds, that’s just messy. That setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than for anyone with a paddle in their hand.

So, there you have it. If you can wait, the 29th is the one to circle, but keep your expectations in the gutter. Otherwise, it’s a blank run, which is pretty normal for this stretch. Forecasts can change, and it won’t stay poor forever, but this outlook is what it is.

Rusty.

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