Westward Ho Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a proper look at what’s heading our way for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – the forecast for the next week and a half or so is a real struggle. We’re looking at a long stretch of gutless, blown-out conditions. From Thursday the 23rd right through to the end of July, the sea state is just grim. The wind is locked in from the north-west, smashing the surface to bits, and the swell is tiny – mostly ankle-snappers around 0.7 ft to 2 ft. The energy is pitiful, reading between 10 and 54 (combined energy of all swells directed here). You’d be fighting a losing battle out there. The water is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year at 64°, but that’s small comfort when there’s nothing to ride.

There’s a brief, tiny glimmer on the morning of Tuesday the 28th of July at Westward Ho. The wind goes glassy, and the sea goes flat calm. But the swell is just 1 ft from the west with a period of 8 seconds. It’s a lovely morning for a paddle, but not for a surf. The energy is still a weak 22.

Then, on the morning of Thursday the 30th of July, things finally shift. We get a proper offshore breeze from the east at just 3 mph. The sea goes clean. The swell is still tiny at 3 ft, coming from the west-northwest, but it’s rideable. The energy is up to 74 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The sea is clean, but it’s still just a one-star day.

Now, hold on to your board, because the real action is a long way off. The standout window is the morning of Monday the 3rd of August. This is the one. The wind is offshore from the east at 9 mph, and the sea is clean. The swell is a solid 8 ft from the west with a period of 8 seconds. That’s a big, powerful lump of water. The combined energy is a massive 958 (combined energy of all swells directed here). This is a serious wave. For a beginner, 8 ft is a lot of water, so this one is for the experienced crew. Expect very good surf conditions.

The morning of Tuesday the 4th of August is still looking promising. The wind stays offshore from the east at 9 mph, with clean conditions. The swell drops to a more manageable 5 ft from the west, with a period of 7 seconds. The energy is a healthy 272 (combined energy of all swells directed here). This is a good, solid day for a lot of surfers.

So, the long and short of it is: we’ve got a long, dusty spell of crap surf, then a little tease on the 30th, and a real, proper swell on the 3rd and 4th of August. The 3rd is the big one. It’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it, but it’s the only true standout on the charts.

Rusty.

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