Surf Forecasts:
The Harbour surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, ESE swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, ESE swell with 1,080 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Harbour this week:
The surf forecast for The Harbour over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Harbour in the next 16 days are 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Harbour over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk about The Harbour. I’ve scanned the charts, and it’s a real quiet stretch. We’re looking at a big hole of nothing at the beginning, so it’s a long wait for anything to happen.
The outlook starts with a flat spell. From Thursday the 20th of August right through the morning of Monday the 25th, there’s no surf to be had. The wind is messy, mostly cross-onshore, and the wave energy is a big fat zero. That’s a solid 5-day blank stretch. A tough one.
Things finally show a pulse on the morning of Tuesday the 25th, but it’s tiny. We get a 2 ft swell from the SE with a short period of 4 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 14, and it’s still a bit bumpy with a cross-shore wind. The afternoon is a little better at 2 ft, but still poor.
The real action, if you want to call it that, starts on Wednesday the 26th. The morning brings a 7 ft swell from the ESE with a 7-second period. That’s moderate wave energy (361), but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. By the afternoon, the swell drops to 6 ft, but the energy jumps to 545 (strong). Still, the wind is cross-shore and the conditions are poor. This looks more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle session.
Then, a glimmer. Thursday morning, the 27th of August. The wind goes glassy, a light NE at 5 km/h. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the ESE, short period at 7 seconds, but it’s clean. The energy is 208 (moderate). The report says “expect good surf conditions,” but the score is low. It’s the closest we get to a standout, but it’s a marginal call. The afternoon turns onshore and it’s gone.
Friday the 28th has a bit of size – 5 ft from the E with a longer 9-second period and very strong energy (603) in the morning. Again, the wind is onshore, and it’s questionable. The afternoon is a write-off.
The rest of the run into the first week of September is a sad story of small, weak swells, onshore winds, and flat spells. The water temp is about 58°F, which is normal for the time of year.
So, the only highlight, and I mean the *only* one, is the Thursday morning, 27th of August. It’s not big, it’s not perfect, but it’s the only time the wind goes glassy and we have some rideable swell at The Harbour. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a poor run. It’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Thu night, calm by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the E by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 | 43 | 361 | 359 | 193 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 7:45PM3.33m | 8:24AM3.29m | 8:58PM3.24m | 9:50AM3.20m | 10:16PM3.28m | 11:08AM3.27m | 11:23PM3.43m | 12:09PM3.42m | 00:16AM3.62m | 12:57PM3.61m | 00:59AM3.83m | 1:36PM3.78m | 1:35AM4.02m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:41AM1.81m | 2:22PM1.90m | 3:08AM1.94m | 3:46PM2.01m | 4:50AM1.86m | 5:09PM1.96m | 6:00AM1.64m | 6:07PM1.79m | 6:45AM1.39m | 6:48PM1.60m | 7:21AM1.15m | 7:24PM1.39m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | |
8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | SE 6 | N 12 | ENE 8 | ESE 7 |
— | — | — | 197 | 280 | 227 | 190 | 108 | 58 | 42 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 43 | 3 | 186 | 193 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 13 | N 12 | N 6 | — | N 12 | ENE 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 172 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 13 | — | N 12 | N 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | S 3 | S 3 | — | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ENE 4 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | — |
212 | 240 | 232 | 370 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 14 | 21 | 6 | 361 | 359 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 945 | 100 | 633 | 128 | 52 | 52 | 100 | 101 | 130 | 58 | 171 | 180 | 180 | 183 | 236 | 299 | 180 | 201 | 127 | 22 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - East Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Harbour Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Harbour provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Harbour can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Harbour 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 (The Harbour) 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 The Harbour 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Scotland - East Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near The Harbour, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Scotland - East Coast, consider staying in Aberdeen which is 3 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around Scotland - East Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Charlestown which is 6 km (4 miles) away, Peterhead, Montrose and Fraserburgh.











