West Wittering Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s be honest with you. Looking at the next couple of weeks here at West Wittering, I’ve got to tell you, it’s a bit of a grim outlook for us paddle surfers. We’ve got a real run of poor surf conditions stretching right out across the forecast. There is a significant gap with no real surf on offer, so don’t get too fired up just yet.

The main issue is the wind. For days on end, it’s just constant onshore and cross-onshore, with a lot of strong breezes and even near gale-force gusts. That’s going to chop up whatever small swell we get. The wave energy is weak through most of this period. Even when the swell tries to pick up, the wind is just ruining it, making it messy and lumpy. It looks more interesting for the kite surfing crew than for us, to be honest.

There is one notable pulse of energy coming our way around the 6th of September. The WNW swell direction will bring in some bigger surf, with the combined energy of all swells directed here hitting 722, which is strong. There’s a morning pulse of 8ft, but it’s arriving with a moderate breeze and it’s straight onshore. It’s going to be a walled-up, wind-blown mess. Unless you’re a local expert who knows how to find the rip, it’s going to be a tough, unenjoyable paddle. This is definitely one for the experienced crew only.

Before that, there’s a tiny window on the morning of the 5th of September. We get a brief moment of glassy conditions with a light ENE breeze. It’s clean, but the swell is tiny at 1ft with a weak energy reading of just 15. It’s barely surfable, but if you’re desperate for a clean head-dip, that’s your only chance for a decent paddle in the first week.

After that 6th, the swell backs right off again. The energy drops away, and we’re back to small, wind-blown slop. The swell direction stays from the SW, but we’re mostly seeing waves under 2ft. It looks like another blank stretch for the second week, with all the T-storms and light rain just adding to the grim picture. The only clean conditions show up on the 11th of September, with a light offshore ENE breeze, but the swell is a pathetic 0.3ft. There’s just nothing for us to work with, even the long-period energy from the SW doesn't have any size behind it.

Honestly, this is a poor run. West Wittering is an inconsistent spot at the best of times, and with this forecast, I’d say give the board a rest. We’re not getting any decent, rideable surf for the whole 16-day window. It’s one of those times where the blank run is just normal for our stretch of coast. Forecasts can change, but right now, I wouldn't bother checking the surf report every morning.

Keep an eye on that 6th for the experts and maybe the morning of the 5th if you just want to get in the water. Otherwise, it's a no-go.

Rusty.

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