Tenby (South Beach) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Mate, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days look like a tough stretch for quality waves around here. There’s some action, but you’ll need to pick your moments carefully.

The water temperature at Tenby (South Beach) is sitting at 67°, which is a full 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a very unusual anomaly, so you’ll be comfortable in a spring suit or even a shorty.

We kick off on Wednesday the 19th with nothing worth paddling out for – tiny weak swell and poor conditions. The wind is cross-off but the swell is barely a ripple. Same story Thursday morning the 20th: a 5 ft swell from the WSW pops up, but it’s short period at 8 seconds and the wind is offshore but strong at 12 mph. The combined energy is moderate at 308, but the conditions are described as ordinary. Thursday afternoon sees a similar 5 ft swell with a fresh 19 mph offshore wind – still messy and not recommended.

From Friday the 21st right through to Tuesday the 25th, it’s a real dry spell. Swell heights drop to 2 ft or less, and the energy is weak – values mostly under 100. The wind switches around but never lines up cleanly with any decent swell. This is a stretch of several days where you’re better off doing something else.

Then we get a glimmer on Wednesday the 26th of August. The morning brings a 5 ft WSW swell with a 3 mph offshore wind from the NNW – that’s as close to glassy as you’ll get. The period is short at 8 seconds, but the combined energy jumps to a strong 455. The guidance says “expect good surf conditions,” and the break is fairly consistent. This is the standout of the entire forecast. The swell is 5 ft, which is fine for intermediate surfers but might be a little much for beginners. The wind is light offshore, so expect clean, workable lines at Tenby (South Beach). Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get in early.

The afternoon of the 26th sees the same 5 ft swell but the wind picks up to 12 mph offshore, making it less clean. Thursday the 27th drops to 3 ft with cross-off winds and only moderate energy. From Friday the 28th through to the end of the period, it’s mostly poor – small swell, onshore or cross-shore winds, and low energy. The only other noteworthy window is Monday the 31st of August, when a 5 ft WSW swell with a strong 19 mph offshore wind from the NNW gives clean conditions again, with the energy climbing to 427. It’s marginal, but if you’re keen, the morning might offer a few decent ones.

The first week of September is more of the same – small, weak, and mostly straight. The morning of the 2nd has a 5 ft swell but it’s cross-on with a southerly wind, so not great.

So, to wrap it up: your best bet is the morning of Wednesday the 26th of August – that’s the one to mark. After that, keep an eye on the morning of the 31st. For the rest, it’s a waiting game.

Stay wet, stay keen.

Rusty

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