Westward Ho Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. I’ve scanned the charts for Westward Ho! and, to be honest, there’s nothing that gets the heart racing. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf and tricky winds ahead. It’s one of those times when you might be better off checking the kitesurf forecast, especially when that swell starts to push through with a messy onshore blow. There’s no good surf on offer in this entire 16-day window. We'll walk through the whole period so you know what to expect.

The first few days, from the 21st to the 25th of August, are a total write-off. We're looking at ankle-biters, with waves mostly under 3 ft. The energy is weak, with readings like 102 and even dropping right down to a paltry 10. You’ve got cross-shore winds and a bit of chop messing things up. There is a nice offshore wind on the 24th, but there’s basically no swell to go with it. It’s clean but flat. Not worth getting wet for.

Then we slide into a middle section from the 26th to the 29th. The swell tries to pick up a little, but it’s still poor quality. The wind stays messy, and we get some rain showers mixed in. On the 27th afternoon, we see the energy jump to 236, but that’s paired with a strong cross-onshore wind and lumpy conditions. Not good. The 28th is more of the same – onshore and messy with a reading of 160 in the afternoon. There’s a bit more push here, but it’s all over the place.

The real kicker comes in the final part of the run, from the 30th of August into the 3rd of September. The swell finally shows up, but it’s not for the faint of heart. We go from 5 ft up to 6 ft and even 7 ft on the 3rd afternoon. The energy readings get serious – 427, 392, and a solid 408. But – and this is a big but – the wind is just awful. It’s cross-on or directly onshore, making everything choppy and lumpy. This isn't a surfer's swell; this is a washing machine. Anything over 5 ft is getting too big for the beginners, and this is well on its way. With that strong onshore wind, this looks far more interesting for kitesurfing than paddle surfing.

We fade out after that, dropping back down to small, weak surf again for the 4th and 5th of September. There is a moment on the 3rd morning when the wind goes glassy, but there’s only 1 ft of swell to show for it. Talk about a tease.

So, there you have it. A solid two-week stretch of nothing for the soul. When the surf is this poor, it can't stay bad forever, and the long-range forecasts can change. Fingers crossed something better shows up on the charts next week. Keep the board in the car, but maybe leave the wetsuit at home for a bit.

Stay salty.

Rusty

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