Westward Ho Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks.

Right now, we’re in a flat spell. There’s just nothing doing for the first week or so. From Tuesday the 25th of August right through to the end of the month, we’ve got tiny dribble – 0.7ft to 1ft at best – and the energy is pitiful, with the combined energy barely hitting 30 (16 to 35). It’s a write-off. You’d be better off polishing your board or checking the tide pools. That blank run stretches a solid seven days, with no real surf to speak of.

We start to see a pulse of energy building into the first week of September, but it’s messy. The swell picks up – 5ft by Saturday morning, jumping to 10ft by Saturday afternoon – but the wind is howling onshore or cross-onshore, mostly from the WSW, blowing 18 to 25 mph. The combined energy climbs to 1218 by Saturday afternoon, but it’s going to be a washing machine. This is a classic case of the wind ruining it. For a beginner spot like Westward Ho, that 10ft stuff is only for the experts anyway, and even then, it’s going to be messy. The rest of that week and into the next is a mix of bumpy, lumpy, and onshore conditions. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, hold on to your leggies, because the real standout shows up. Looking at the chart, the best offer is Tuesday the 8th of September. That morning we’ve got a clean 6ft swell from the west, with a very long period of 15 seconds. The wind is light and offshore from the NNE at 9 mph, and the combined energy is a serious 1669 – that’s strong, powerful stuff. The guidance says this is excellent surf for experienced surfers, and I’m not going to argue. That long period will make for some proper groundswell lines, and with offshore wind, Westward Ho could be firing. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it, but that’s the one to circle on your calendar.

The afternoon of the 8th cleans up even more with glassy, offshore conditions from the ENE at just 3 mph, and a 5ft swell with a 14-second period. It's a bit smaller, but it's going to be smooth as butter. Then Wednesday the 9th still has a clean 6ft swell with offshore easterly wind, but the period drops to 8 seconds, so it won't have the same grunt. Still, a solid clean session.

So, for the next 16 days, it’s a long wait for that one big day. The 8th of September is the standout. If you can wait, it’ll be worth it.

Rusty.

Read more