Surf Forecasts:
Rest Bay surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, WSW swell with 68 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 0.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rest Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let me break down Rest Bay for you in feet and Fahrenheit.
First off, the water is running a full 4° warmer than normal for this time of year. That's a seriously unusual anomaly – the ocean feels more like a bath than the Atlantic. You'll be in a spring suit at most.
The first week and a half is a bust. From Tuesday, July 28th, all the way through Monday, August 10th, it's mostly flat and ugly. The wave energy is pathetic – single and low double-digit numbers (13, 29, 75). The wind is usually onshore or cross-onshore, tearing up any little bump. There's a glassy moment on Tuesday, August 4th in the afternoon, but with a wave of only 2ft, it's barely a ripple.
We finally see a pulse on Monday, August 10th. The energy jumps to 180, with waves around 4ft from the WSW and a 9-second period. But the wind is cross-onshore and choppy, so it's still messy.
Tuesday, August 11th, is the one to aim for. Tuesday morning will be glassy – wind drops to almost nothing from the W. You'll have clean, 4ft waves from the WSW with a 7-second period and moderate energy (118). It's short-period, so it'll be soft and a bit weak, but with zero wind, the faces will be smooth. That's the only window that's any good.
Things pick up in size on Wednesday, August 12th, with waves hitting 5 to 6ft and energy soaring to 366 (strong). But the onshore wind from the W kicks in again, so it'll be choppy and blown out. The period is still short (8 seconds), so no real power behind it.
Honestly, the whole 16-day outlook is a tough one. The single best bet is Tuesday morning, August 11th. Get there early for the glass-off. You'll have 4ft, clean, surfable waves from the WSW with moderate energy. It's the only time the stars align. The rest of the time, the onshore winds will kill whatever small swell is around.
Expect a long, dry spell. It's just one of those periods for the area.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the W by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 3 | W 10 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | W 4 | WSW 10 | W 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 14 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 29 | 33 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 59 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 34 | 54 | 62 | 36 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:53PM7.62m | 7:12AM7.62m | 7:30PM8.03m | 7:47AM7.95m | 8:04PM8.36m | 8:21AM8.20m | 8:38PM8.58m | 8:55AM8.33m | 9:12PM8.66m | 9:30AM8.36m | 9:47PM8.61m | 10:05AM8.26m | 10:23PM8.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:06AM1.63m | 1:19PM1.47m | 1:42AM1.27m | 1:53PM1.15m | 2:15AM1.00m | 2:25PM0.93m | 2:46AM0.83m | 2:56PM0.82m | 3:18AM0.77m | 3:28PM0.82m | 3:49AM0.83m | 4:01PM0.94m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — |
 | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 5 | WSW 5 | — | W 4 | W 5 | WSW 9 | W 4 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 |
| kJ | 14 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 8 | — | 8 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 34 | 54 | 62 | 36 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | W 11 | — | W 10 | — | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | — | WSW 9 | W 4 | W 12 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 8 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | — | 15 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 11 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 3 | W 4 | W 6 | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | W 4 | — | W 9 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | 29 | 33 | — | — | 11 | 8 | — | 59 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 145 | 140 | 188 | 311 | 311 | 356 | 392 | 193 | 208 | 392 | 356 | 194 | 211 | 194 | 208 | 195 | 40 | 21 | 177 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wales - South East | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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