Rest Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 51.49° N 3.73° W

Rest Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 13 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rest Bay sea temperature is
20.4° C
4.0° 

Rest Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Rest Bay surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, WSW swell with 161 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rest Bay this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Rest Bay in the next 16 days are 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 1PM (Tue 18th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rest Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, and I’m calling it like I see it for Rest Bay.

Tough start, mates. We’ve got a long dry spell of flatness and junk wind that runs from Thursday the 13th all the way through to Saturday the 22nd of August. Swell is under 3 feet most days, with onshore or side-shore breezes ruining any hope of a clean wave. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking triple digits. Not worth getting wet.

Things finally wake up on Sunday the 23rd of August. That morning brings a 3 foot swell from the WSW at 8 seconds, but the wind turns light and cross-offshore, making for clean conditions. Energy is 79 (weak to moderate). By Sunday afternoon, the wind goes glassy, and the same swell holds at 3 feet with energy up to 111 (moderate). That’s your first real chance for a session – nothing huge, but clean and fun for an intermediate.

Monday the 24th teases with offshore wind in the morning, but the swell drops to 1 feet. Not enough.

The real reward comes later. Thursday the 27th of August afternoon and into Friday the 28th, we get strong offshore winds from the NE blowing 18-25 mph. The swell picks up to 3 feet from the W, with the period stretching to 9 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and Friday the 28th afternoon sees combined energy hit 213 (strong). Rest Bay likes a SW swell, but the W direction will still wrap in nicely. This is the best bet of the entire forecast – glassy faces and real push.

Just keep your eyes open for crowds when it looks this good.

So, in short: save your energy. Wait for Sunday the 23rd for a clean little session, or hold tight for the last few days of the month when it finally turns on.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sat night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Tue afternoon).

Thu
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
WSW
10
0.6
WSW
10
0.6
WSW
9
0.6
WSW
9
0.6
W
8
0.5
W
8
0.4
WSW
7
0.5
W
7
0.3
WSW
7
0.3
W
7
0.4
W
4
0.2
WSW
7
0.5
W
3
1
W
5
1.3
WSW
7
1.4
WSW
7
1
WSW
7
0.9
WSW
6
0.9
WSW
6
0.7
W
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
114
74
65
62
48
30
18
27
11
9
5
5
5
45
157
158
96
70
56
27
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
10
WNW
15
W
25
WSW
10
N
20
NNW
35
NW
10
N
5
SW
10
NW
15
NW
0
W
25
WSW
15
W
30
W
30
WSW
15
NW
15
W
25
WSW
10
WNW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
on
on
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
7:49PM9.35m
8:11AM9.09m
8:30PM9.49m
8:51AM9.10m
9:10PM9.36m
9:30AM8.88m
9:48PM8.99m
10:07AM8.48m
10:25PM8.43m
10:44AM7.95m
11:03PM7.76m
11:22AM7.34m
11:42PM7.06m
Low Tide
2:03AM0.09m
2:17PM0.15m
2:42AM0.02m
2:55PM0.16m
3:19AM0.19m
3:32PM0.39m
3:54AM0.55m
4:07PM0.80m
4:29AM1.07m
4:44PM1.34m
5:05AM1.67m
5:23PM1.95m
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:58
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:42
8:39
8:37
8:36
8:34
8:31
8:30
 mm
1
Temp °C
24
20
20
20
19
21
21
16
17
17
16
18
19
17
19
19
18
18
18
16
Feels °C
21
19
19
18
18
17
14
12
15
15
14
18
16
16
17
16
16
15
15
13
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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Information about the Rest Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Rest Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rest Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rest Bay 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 (Rest Bay) 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 Rest Bay 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.

Rest Bay is 1 km (1 miles) from Porthcawl. If you plan a holiday in Wales - South East, look for hotels and other accommodation in Porthcawl. Porthcawl has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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