The Harbour Surf Break

Lat Long: 57.14° N 2.06° W

The Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Harbour sea temperature is
14.1° C
0.1° 

The Harbour surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


The Harbour surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 4s period, NNE swell with 15 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Harbour this week:

The most powerful waves expected at The Harbour in the next 16 days are 0.7m 4s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 1AM (Thu 20th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 4s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Harbour over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, surf fans, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for The Harbour.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: it's a pretty grim outlook for the next week and a half. The opening days are a write-off. We're looking at a solid stretch of flat, choppy, or just plain messy conditions from Tuesday the 18th through to around the 25th of August. The wind is all over the shop, mostly onshore or cross-shore, and even when the swell tries to show up, it's tiny and weak. You're not missing a thing.

The pattern finally starts to shift around Wednesday the 26th of August. We get a pulse of swell from the SSE, pushing in at about 5ft. The energy jumps up to a moderate 401, which is a real sign of life. But the wind is a letdown – onshore from the ESE, making it choppy. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won't get a shock on that front.

The energy keeps building through the end of the month. On Thursday the 27th, we get a 5ft E swell with a period of 8 seconds, and the energy is a solid 229. But again, the wind is onshore from the ENE. This pattern of mediocre wind and building swell continues right through to the 29th of August, with the swell holding around 5ft to 5ft from the ENE. Good energy, but the wind is just not playing ball for a clean session.

Now, if you're holding out for a real window, look to Sunday the 30th of August. That morning, we finally get a change. The wind swings to a light, cross-offshore breeze from the SSE. The swell is a more manageable 4ft from the east, with a period of 7 seconds and moderate energy of 156. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" – but for this stretch, that's the best we've got. It's the one morning where the stars align a little bit for a grovel session.

After that, the swell drops off fast, and we're back to small, weak waves and strong winds for the start of September. The offshore winds on the 1st and 2nd of September are promising, but with the swell barely breaking 4ft, it's not going to be a day to write home about.

So, the standout? There's really only one. The Harbour on the morning of Sunday the 30th of August. It's not big, it's not perfect, but with a light cross-offshore wind, it'll be the cleanest and most surfable we've seen in weeks. Don't expect a barrel, but you'll get a few lined-up waist-high waves to yourself.

Other than that, it's a waiting game. The potential is there for a bigger swell in the last week of August, but the wind is the enemy. Keep your eye on the forecasts.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Thu morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Fri morning, calm by Sun night).

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSE
4
0.4
SE
4
0.3
ENE
4
0.2
E
4
0.2
E
4
0.7
NNE
4
1.4
NNE
8
1.6
NNE
8
1.6
NNE
9
0.4
NW
3
1.3
NNE
9
1.1
NNE
9
1.1
NNE
9
0.9
NNE
9
1.1
NNE
8
0.9
NNE
8
0.9
NNE
7
0.7
NNE
7
0.5
NNE
7
0.4
NNE
7
0.4
NNE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
11
5
4
1
1
15
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wind (km/h)
10
NW
10
NNE
5
WNW
10
N
15
NE
20
NNW
30
N
25
NNW
25
NW
30
NW
25
NNW
20
WNW
30
NW
25
NNW
20
NW
20
NNW
10
ENE
5
W
10
SSE
15
SE
10
SSE
Wind State
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
on
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
6:06PM3.68m
6:20AM3.79m
6:50PM3.49m
7:13AM3.52m
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
Low Tide
11:47AM0.99m
11:53PM1.34m
12:28PM1.33m
00:39AM1.59m
1:17PM1.64m
1:41AM1.81m
2:22PM1.90m
3:08AM1.94m
3:46PM2.01m
4:50AM1.86m
5:09PM1.96m
6:00AM1.64m
6:07PM1.79m
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:39
5:41
5:43
5:46
5:48
5:50
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:43
8:39
8:37
8:35
8:32
8:30
8:27
 mm
1
4
2
Temp °C
17
16
15
14
13
12
13
14
11
13
14
12
15
15
11
14
14
11
12
13
13
Feels °C
16
15
15
12
10
8
7
8
5
6
8
6
9
9
7
11
11
10
8
10
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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.

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