Surf Forecasts:
South Haven surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 4s period, SW swell with 18 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for South Haven this week:
The most powerful waves expected at South Haven in the next 16 days are 0.7m 4s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Haven over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's be real with you right now. I've looked at the charts for the next two weeks and, honestly, it's a tough stretch for South Haven. The whole 16-day window is basically a dud.
We start off with a bit of a pulse on Saturday, August 8th. The swell is small, only about 2.3ft from the WNW, but the period is a meager 4 seconds. That's short-period wind chop, not groundswell. The combined energy is weak (18), and with a cross-on wind, it's going to be messy and choppy. Not worth a paddle. The water temperature is 66.6°, which is 4.1° colder than normal for this time of year. That's a notable chill.
Sunday, the 9th, is even worse. The swell drops to 2.0ft, and the wind swings to a moderate cross-shore from the south. The combined energy is almost nothing (3). The afternoon has a brief window of clean conditions with a fresh cross-offshore breeze, but the wave height is only 1.3ft – not enough to push a surfboard.
From Monday, the 10th, through to the end of the outlook on August 23rd, it's a desert. There are long gaps of flat days. For example, from the 11th through the 16th, there are multiple days where the combined energy sits at zero. After that, we get a few tiny pulses of 1.3ft from the north on the 13th, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy and unappealing. The conditions are “poor” across the board.
The only silver lining is that the break is fairly consistent, so it won't stay this flat forever. But for the next two weeks, I can't in good conscience recommend a single session. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing given the swell and wind combo. Hang in there, or find a lake.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 66mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | S 4 | S 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 3 | N 3 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | — | — | — |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on |
High Tide | |||||||||||||||||||||
Low Tide | |||||||||||||||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 24 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 5 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | — | — | S 4 | S 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 3 | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | N 4 | ENE 3 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 18 | — | — | 9 | 3 | 17 | 8 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1053 | 1028 | 1028 | 1042 | 1052 | 1144 | 1415 | 1053 | 1059 | 1164 | 2916 | 1169 | 1169 | 1055 | 1041 | 1169 | 2916 | 1050 | 1062 | 1053 | 1058 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lake Michigan | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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