Surf Forecasts:
Lowestoft surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 7s period, NNE swell with 17 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lowestoft this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Lowestoft in the next 16 days are 0.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 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 – this 16-day stretch for Lowestoft is a tough one to call “surf.” The honest truth is there’s not a single session that’s really worth paddling out for. The whole period is a write-off for any kind of decent wave riding.
The water temperature is sitting at 68°F right now, which is a solid 5°F warmer than the long-term average for this time of year. That’s a real standout – it’s much warmer than usual, so at least you won’t need a thick wetsuit if you’re just having a swim.
From Wednesday the 12th right through to the end of August, it’s all poor surf conditions. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and what little energy there is comes from the east-southeast or northeast with very short periods of 4 to 5 seconds. That’s just windswash, not a proper groundswell. The combined energy is weak, peaking at just 55 for a brief moment, and then it’s mostly in the single digits or low teens. There’s no punch or power at all.
We do see a little bump in size around the 21st and 22nd of August, with waist-high 3ft to 4ft swell from the north, but the period is still a short 8 to 9 seconds. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore from the east or east-northeast, making it choppy and messy. The combined energy gets up to 202, which is moderate, but it’s lost in the poor conditions. A couple of afternoons later in the run, like the 17th and 19th, see a clean offshore wind from the west, but the swell is tiny – 1.0ft to 2ft – so there’s just nothing to ride.
Lowestoft is inconsistent at the best of times, and this run is a classic example of a blank spell. The spot is fairly exposed to the north, but it needs a proper swell with direction to cooperate. The optimum swell direction is from the north, and we do get north swell, but it’s too small and short-period to do anything.
Forget the surf – this setup, with the small, choppy waves and onshore winds on the beach, looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. You’ll be better off waiting for a better forecast.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu night, min 17°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Mon afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | E 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ENE 4 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | N 7 | NNE 5 | S 3 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 42 | 23 | 7 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 10:31PM2.54m | 10:22AM2.65m | 11:16PM2.55m | 11:05AM2.74m | 11:58PM2.51m | 11:47AM2.77m | 00:39AM2.42m | 12:27PM2.74m | 1:18AM2.32m | 1:07PM2.66m | 1:57AM2.21m | 1:49PM2.55m | 2:36AM2.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:10PM0.39m | 4:25AM0.87m | 4:55PM0.23m | 5:06AM0.82m | 5:38PM0.17m | 5:45AM0.81m | 6:20PM0.21m | 6:23AM0.84m | 7:01PM0.33m | 7:00AM0.89m | 7:41PM0.51m | 7:37AM0.96m | 8:22PM0.72m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — |
 | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | N 7 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ESE 4 | N 8 | NE 4 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NNE 5 | ENE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 13 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | ENE 4 | N 10 | N 9 | — | — | — | N 7 | N 9 | N 5 | E 4 | N 8 | NE 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | E 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | NNW 2 | NE 3 | — | — | NNE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | — | — | S 3 | S 3 | SSE 3 | SE 3 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 42 | 23 | 7 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 10 | 12 | 6 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 403 | 403 | 350 | 337 | 567 | 247 | 407 | 640 | 558 | 643 | 643 | 563 | 643 | 670 | 204 | 676 | 181 | 181 | 217 | 567 | 403 |
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.
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