Surf Forecasts:
South Haven surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, NNW swell with 426 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for South Haven this week:
The surf forecast for South Haven over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at South Haven in the next 16 days are 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Haven over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this one’s a tough pill to swallow. Looking at the 16-day window for South Haven, it’s pretty much a flat spell with nothing doing for the paddle. We’ve got a long stretch of no surf starting from the 27th of August all the way through to the 5th of September, so that’s a solid ten days of zilch. Before that, there’s a tiny bit of action, but it’s nothing to write home about.
The only real chance to get wet is around the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of August, but even then, it’s grim. Saturday morning on the 22nd sees a weak 4ft NW swell with a short 5-second period and a fresh cross-onshore wind at 19 mph, making it lumpy and choppy. Combined wave energy is a measly 95, so it’s barely a ripple. That afternoon, it bumps up a touch to 5ft from the NNW, period stretching to 6 seconds, energy at 165, but still cross-onshore and choppy. Not worth paddling out.
Sunday the 23rd brings the “biggest” swell of the run – 6ft from the NNW, period at 8 seconds, and energy hitting 416, which is moderate. But the wind is still a moderate cross-shore, producing a cross-chop, so the quality is poor. That’s expert-level size at a beach break, and with the wind messing it up, it’s a pass for me. Monday morning the 24th is glassy with a tiny 2ft N swell, period 6 seconds, energy a weak 27 – clean but flat. After that, it’s all downhill into the dead zone.
The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing special. Honestly, the whole setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with that strong wind and chop. No standouts, no diamonds in the rough. Just a blank run. It’s one of those spells where forecasts can change, but for now, leave the boards at home.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 24°C on Fri night, min 18°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Thu night, fresh winds from the NNW by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 3 | S 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 6 | NNW 6 | N 4 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | WSW 4 | W 4 | — |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 94 | 165 | 96 | 416 | 336 | 86 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 21 | 7 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | |||||||||||||||||||
Low Tide | |||||||||||||||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | 8:38 | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | — | — | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | NNW 6 | N 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 7 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | WSW 4 | W 4 | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | 94 | 165 | 96 | 416 | 336 | 86 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 11 | 21 | 7 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1051 | 1042 | 2862 | 1068 | 1147 | 1042 | 1053 | 1053 | 1053 | 32 | 1052 | 1042 | 1053 | 1061 | 1471 | 1061 | 1484 | 1186 | 1147 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lake Michigan | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our South Haven surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the South Haven Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for South Haven provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at South Haven can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our South Haven 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 (South Haven) 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 South Haven 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.
South Haven is 44 km (27 miles) from the city of Holland. If you plan a vacation in Lake Michigan, look for hotels and other accommodation in Holland. Holland has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
Nearest