Tenby (South Beach) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the Tenby area.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next two weeks are a real mixed bag, and honestly, most of it is a bit of a letdown. We’ve got a long stretch of near-nothing waves, with weak, short-period windswell and mostly cross or onshore winds. The energy is just not there. The swell is tiny, and the conditions are meh. For a sheltered spot like Tenby (South Beach), the wind needs to play ball, and for most of the period, it doesn’t.

Let’s walk through it. Thursday morning, August 6th, we’ve got a 3ft swell from the west, but the period is a short 6 seconds. The combined energy is only 90 – that’s weak. The wind is a moderate offshore, so the surface is clean, but the waves are just too small and gutless. The water is sitting at 66°F, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, a real treat if you’re in the water, but it doesn’t make the surf any better.

We then hit a flat spell. From Thursday afternoon all the way through to Tuesday morning, August 11th, the swell is under 2ft. We’re talking 0.7ft, 1ft – barely a ripple. There’s a glassy moment on Monday morning, August 10th, with a 2ft swell and 6-second period, but the energy is only 41. It’s pretty, but not surfable. This is a big gap of a few days with nothing to get excited about.

Things finally start to show a pulse on Wednesday morning, August 12th. We get a 3ft swell from the west-southwest, combined energy jumps to 117 (moderate), and the wind is glassy. The afternoon cleans up too, with a 3ft swell and a 10-second period. It’s a slight improvement, but still not a standout.

The next week is more of the same. We get a few days with 3ft to 5ft swell from the west-southwest, but the periods are short (7-10 seconds). The wind is generally cross or cross-off, so the shape will be a bit fat and chopped. The combined energy stays in the moderate range (113 to 200). It’s okay for a beginner paddle, but nothing to drive for.

Now, hold on to your board. The real player shows up on Wednesday, August 19th, the morning brings a solid 8ft swell from the west, but it’s a short 8-second period. The combined energy is a massive 774 (strong). The problem? The wind is a moderate cross-shore, and the waves are all chop. The afternoon drops to 6ft, still cross-shore. This is a big, messy, ugly lineup. For a beach break, this is more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle-surfing session. Beginners should stay well clear of that 8ft – it’s too big and messy.

The best of the whole run, and the only true standout, is Thursday morning, August 20th. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the west, a 8-second period, and combined energy of 559 (strong). The wind is a gentle cross-offshore, so the surface is clean. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions” – and that’s what we’re looking for. This is the only real window of quality. The swell is a bit big for beginners, but for experienced surfers, this is the one. Just be aware that the 7ft afternoon swell is still there, but the wind picks up to a moderate cross-off, so it’s a bit rougher.

After that, Friday morning, August 21st, the swell drops back to 3ft, and we’re back to the usual poor conditions.

To wrap it up: The first week is a write-off. The second week is mostly average, but Thursday morning, August 20th, is the true standout. The 7ft west swell with clean cross-off winds is your best bet. The water is notably warm for the time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit. If you’re a beginner, wait for the smaller days; if you’re an expert, circle that Thursday on the calendar.

Rusty out.

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