West Wittering Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks around West Wittering are looking bleak. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and mostly messy surf ahead. There are a few clean moments and one window that looks slightly interesting, but for the most part, you might want to find other things to do.

The first real chance of anything rideable doesn't show up until Wednesday, August 28th. Until then, it’s a whole lot of nothing. We're talking days of ankle-biters under 3 feet, short-period windswell, and a bunch of onshore and cross-onshore slop. The energy readings are pathetic, mostly in the single digits and teens, with a few brief bumps into the 20s and 30s. For a sheltered spot like this, it’s just not doing anything. The water temperature is a crazy 71°, which is 9° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, and honestly, the only thing that’s got any heat in it right now.

We do get a little offshore wind from Friday, August 21st through Sunday, August 23rd, and the ocean will clean right up. But there’s just no swell behind it. We’re talking about 0.3 ft leftovers at best. It’s going to be glassy, but with nothing to ride. You could get a knee-high sliver on a longboard, but that’s being generous. The energy is about as weak as it gets.

The wind swings around again for the start of next week, and we're back to small, choppy conditions. Still nothing. This whole stretch is a write-off. We're just waiting for that pulse of swell to finally fill in.

Now, Wednesday, August 28th is our one standout, and even then, we have to call it the best of a poor bunch. The morning sees an increase in swell to 4 ft from the SW, with a period of 7 seconds from the SW. Combined energy jumps up to 105, which is the only time we see a triple-digit reading in the whole run. The wind is light and cross, so it should be a bit more organized. It’s not huge, but it’s the most energy we’ve seen all week. That afternoon, it eases back to 3 ft. It's not going to be perfect, but it's the only real chance to get wet.

After that, we get another ramp-up from a combination of swells leading into Friday, August 29th and into the weekend. The model shows potential for around 4 ft on Saturday morning, but the wind starts to get cranky. We also have to be wary of the long period swells coming in; when you see 9-second plus periods at a beach/groyne setup like this, the waves can want to close out and just wall up. It's not ideal.

By the end of the period and into the first few days of September, it turns into a proper blowout. Strong onshore winds, up to 34 mph, and heavy rain are going to wreck any chance of a clean wave. The swell height might be there, but the conditions will be hostile. Honestly, that setup on the 31st with a 4 ft onshore slop and near-gale winds will be more interesting for the kite crew than for us paddle surfers. It’s going to be onshore, lumpy, and a full-on battle.

So, here's the deal: if you're desperate, keep your eyes on Wednesday, August 28th. That's your window. The rest of the time, you're better off checking the water temp and having a swim. Long-range, there are signs of more action, but with this much onshore wind in the forecast, you have to take that with a grain of salt. Keep an eye on it, but don't hold your breath.

Rusty, out.

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