West Wittering Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s talk about West Wittering. I’ve had a good look at the charts, and I’ve got to be straight with you: it’s a pretty bleak picture for the next couple of weeks. The water temperature is sitting at 71°F, which is a whopping 9°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, and honestly, it feels like a warm bath out there.

The issue is, we’ve got barely any swell to speak of. For the first week, from Saturday the 22nd of August right through to the end of the month, it’s a desert. Tiny, weak waves – we’re talking 0.3ft to 1ft on the best days, with combined energy readings as low as 1 (extremely weak). The wind is often onshore or cross-onshore, messing up whatever tiny ripple might form. There’s one moment on the 23rd, Sunday morning, where it’s clean with a light offshore, but the swell is just 0.3ft – you’d be floating more than surfing.

The only real glimmer in this whole outlook is on Sunday the 30th of August. The afternoon shows a bit of life with a 5ft swell from the south-southwest, with a period of 6 seconds, giving a combined energy of 131 (moderate). The wind goes light easterly, making it cross-offshore and clean. It’s the only time the forecast uses the word “surfable” – but even then, it’s described as “very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout, just the least bad option. West Wittering is a sheltered beach/groyne setup, and it rarely holds much power, so days like this are about as good as it gets.

After that, we slide back into the doldrums. From the 31st of August right through to the 6th of September, we see swell sizes dropping back to 0.3ft to 3ft, but with strong onshore winds and lumpy, messy conditions. The energy never gets above 24, and the quality is consistently poor. Honestly, for this stretch, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the consistent wind.

So, to sum it up: the only real chance to get wet is Sunday the 30th of August afternoon, but keep your expectations in the car park. For the rest of the 16-day window, it’s a blank run. That’s just how it goes here sometimes – West Wittering is inconsistent, and when the swell doesn’t line up, it’s flat. Forecasts can change, but for now, I’d be looking at the sandcastles, not the surf.

Rusty

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