Surf Forecasts:
Lowestoft surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, NNE swell with 115 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period with NNE 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lowestoft over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Lowestoft over the next couple of weeks.
Truth be told, it’s a pretty quiet stretch for surf. The whole 16-day window is a struggle, with no real standout sessions. We’ve got a long gap right from the start – nothing worth paddling out for until around Friday the 21st of August, and even then it’s marginal. The waves are tiny for most of the run, and the wind is often messy or cross-shore. The combined swell energy is weak, mostly sitting below 100, so there’s just not much power in the water.
The water temperature is running at 68°F, which is a massive 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, so you won’t need a thick wetsuit, but it won’t make up for the lack of surf.
The only real bump in the road comes on Saturday the 22nd of August. The morning sees a 3 ft swell from the NNE, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy hits 112 – that’s moderate energy, finally. The wind is cross-shore from the north at 12 mph, which isn’t ideal, but it’s the best we’ve got. This is a beach break, so the short period (8 seconds) means the waves won’t be super lined up, but there’ll be a few rideable ones for the keen. It’s still a beginner-friendly size, under 5 ft, so if you’re just wanting to get wet, it’s your best shot. Crowds are possible here, as it’s often busy.
After that, it drops back into the doldrums. The rest of the period is all tiny swell, often under 2 ft, with poor surf conditions flagged right through. The wind does go offshore and clean a few times toward the end of August and into early September, but there’s just no swell to push it. On the 2nd of September, we get a little 2 ft to 2 ft pulse from the north with a 9-second period and offshore westerly winds at 12 mph, which would be clean, but it’s barely knee-high. The combined energy is still only 38 to 57, so it’s weak.
Bottom line: Lowestoft is in a flat spell. The Saturday the 22nd is the only window worth checking, and even then, keep your expectations low. It’s a tough run for paddle surfing, and with the wind and weak energy, the setup might actually look more interesting for kite surfing than for a traditional surf session. Hang in there, forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Tue morning, calm by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 8 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | NNE 8 | N 4 | N 6 | NNE 7 | N 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 21 | 51 | 59 | 66 | 112 | 39 | 41 | 54 | 36 | 24 | 39 | 36 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:14AM2.14m | 7:40PM2.10m | 7:20AM2.21m | 8:42PM2.16m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:43PM1.16m | 2:04AM1.31m | 2:33PM1.00m | 2:46AM1.25m | ||||||||
5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | |
— | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | N 6 | N 6 | S 4 | N 7 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 | — | — | NNE 8 | N 7 | — | N 6 |
1 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | 12 | 39 | — | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 7 | S 7 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | W 3 | S 2 | — | SW 3 | SSW 4 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | NNE 8 | N 4 | N 6 | NNE 7 | N 5 | N 6 | — | N 6 | — |
3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 11 | 21 | 51 | 59 | 66 | 112 | 39 | 41 | 54 | 36 | 24 | — | 36 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 424 | 567 | 281 | 449 | 567 | 403 | 247 | 450 | 183 | 349 | 195 | 217 | 126 | 351 | 22 | 351 | 172 | 195 | 195 | 617 | 181 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Anglia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











