Surf Forecasts:
Lowestoft surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, N swell with 181 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lowestoft this week:
The surf forecast for Lowestoft over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lowestoft in the next 16 days are 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lowestoft over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead for Lowestoft. We’ve got a solid 16-day window to look at, but the surf gods are being stingy. The whole lot of it is rated poorly, so don’t expect much.
Sunday the 16th kicks things off with a tiny 1-foot wave from the north, period of just 5 seconds. That’s weak, gutless stuff with combined energy at a measly 6. The water is a notable 68°F, which is a massive 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual. The morning is glassy and calm, but there’s simply no push to it. It’s a beginner-only day, but even then, you’d be fighting for a dribble.
We then hit a long, frustrating gap. Monday and Tuesday have barely a ripple with swell under 2 feet and onshore or cross winds chopping up the wash. Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th bring some clean offshore winds from the west, but the swell stays tiny at 2 feet. It’s clean, but you’re just bobbing around. The energy levels are in the weak zone (12 and 4).
Friday the 21st morning is a write-off, but by the afternoon we see a pulse – wind swell: 4 feet from the north at a short 6-second period, pushing the combined energy up to 119 (moderate). It’s crossed up with a moderate cross-shore breeze though, and the wave comment is still “poor surf conditions.” It’s a messy, short-period wind swell, not the kind you point the car for.
The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd sees a bit of energy again, with waves around 3 feet to 4 feet and combined energy in the 118-175 range. But it’s onshore wind from the east and northeast, so you’ve got chop and crumble. Not good.
After that, we drift into another long lull. From the 24th right through the end of the month, it’s a mix of tiny swell (2 feet to 4 feet), cross-on winds, and consistently poor surf quality. The last few days of August and into the 31st finally show some strong offshore winds from the west-southwest (22 mph), but the swell is only 1 foot. The clean conditions don’t matter when there’s nothing to ride. Combined energy is in the single digits.
Bottom line: there are no standouts in this 16-day forecast. Not a single day worth highlighting as good surf. It’s a blank run that’s normal for this area when the swell windows don't align. A couple of days have moderate energy but are wrecked by wind and short periods. The only positive is that the water is very warm for a paddle, but that’s about it.
Stay patient. Forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 8 | N 8 | SSE 3 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | NNE 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 64 | 0 | 119 | 97 | 104 | 118 | 104 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | on | cross |
High Tide | 12:27PM2.74m | 1:18AM2.32m | 1:07PM2.66m | 1:57AM2.21m | 1:49PM2.55m | 2:36AM2.14m | 2:35PM2.41m | 3:21AM2.10m | 3:30PM2.27m | 4:13AM2.08m | 4:34PM2.15m | 5:11AM2.10m | 5:55PM2.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:01PM0.33m | 7:00AM0.89m | 7:41PM0.51m | 7:37AM0.96m | 8:22PM0.72m | 8:16AM1.04m | 9:03PM0.92m | 9:04AM1.13m | 9:50PM1.10m | 10:05AM1.21m | 10:43PM1.25m | 11:20AM1.26m | 11:49PM1.34m | ||||||||
5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | |
— | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | — | N 8 | NNE 4 | S 4 | N 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | S 7 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 6 | — | — | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | — | — |
4 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 14 | 71 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 6 | N 8 | — | N 7 | NNE 5 | — | — | — | SSW 4 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | SSE 3 | W 3 | SW 4 | NW 3 | WSW 2 | SW 3 | WSW 2 | WSW 3 | WNW 2 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | NNE 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 |
— | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 71 | 119 | 97 | 104 | 118 | 104 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 456 | 643 | 590 | 590 | 567 | 663 | 617 | 1072 | 22 | 629 | 567 | 634 | 351 | 643 | 292 | 351 | 162 | 22 | 36 | 168 | 126 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Anglia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lowestoft Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lowestoft provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lowestoft can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lowestoft surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Lowestoft) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Lowestoft may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Lowestoft is 1 km (1 miles) from the city of Lowestoft. If you plan a holiday in East Anglia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Lowestoft. Lowestoft has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











