Westward Ho Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m looking at the next couple of weeks and, honestly, it’s a tough stretch for surf around here. We’ve got a lot of swell on the way, but the wind is the real problem – it’s messy, cross-onshore for most of the period, and that’s keeping the quality down. The first real swell event kicks off on Sunday, August 30th, but it’s a write-off, with a 4ft WSW swell, a 9-second period, and a stiff cross-onshore wind. The water is sitting at 66°, which is about 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a real standout. The combined energy is weak (270) – it’s just not the kind of day you paddle out for.

The swell builds through Monday, August 31st, with a 8ft W swell, 9-second period, and a fresh cross-onshore wind. The energy jumps to moderate (918), but it’s lumpy and choppy. Definitely not for beginners at that size, and the wind is robbing the shape. That pattern continues through Tuesday and Wednesday – a mix of WSW and W swells, periods staying short (7-9 seconds), and winds that are either cross-onshore or onshore. The energy peaks again on Friday, September 4th, with a 7ft W swell (7 seconds, 524 energy), but it’s still onshore and messy. Honestly, this is the kind of setup that’s more interesting for kitesurfing than paddle surfing – the swell’s there, but the quality is poor.

We get a tiny break in the clouds on Sunday, September 6th, with a 2ft W swell, 9-second period, and a light SSE cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is weak (62), but for the first time, the conditions are actually clean. You could get a few, but it’s small. That’s the only real window of surfable conditions in the first week – and it’s a very marginal one.

Then we hit a gap. From Monday, September 7th, through to Wednesday, September 9th, the swell drops completely – we’re talking 1ft to 2ft W swells, tiny energy (24-58), and mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds. Nothing to ride.

Thursday, September 10th, it gets interesting again, but it’s a long way out. We get a 4ft WSW swell, 8-second period, with a clean offshore E wind at 9 mph. The energy is moderate (178) and the conditions are clean. This is the best looking slot in the whole forecast – a short window of surfable, clean waves. After that, it’s back to messy cross-onshore winds through Friday and Saturday, with swells around 3ft to 5ft, and weak to moderate energy.

The final few days of the outlook, from Sunday, September 13th, to Monday, September 14th, show glassy conditions with very small swell – 0.7ft to 2ft, long periods (9-12 seconds), but no energy. It’s flat, but it’s pretty.

So, what’s the best on offer? If you’re looking for a standout, it’s Thursday, September 10th, at Westward Ho. The swell is 4ft from the WSW, period is short at 8 seconds, but the offshore wind is clean and the energy is moderate (178). It’s the cleanest, most rideable day in the whole 16-day window. The water is still warmer than average, but by then the anomaly has faded from the forecast. For a beginner, this is a decent day. For the rest of the period, it’s a battle with the wind. Keep an eye on the long-range – forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty out.

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