Whitby Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next two weeks are looking pretty grim for our shores. We’ve got a long, dry spell ahead with very little to get excited about. The first couple of days are a total write-off, and the pattern doesn't really improve until we get into the second week, and even then, it's a real struggle.

The whole forecast period is dominated by weak, short-period windswell and rubbish wind directions. The best we can hope for is a tiny window of surfable, but very ordinary, conditions. Don't expect any standouts here.

Starting on Monday the 24th of August through to Wednesday the 26th, it’s a complete no-go. We’re looking at small, choppy, cross-onshore wind slop with combined swell energy barely cracking 60 (57). That’s just not worth paddling out for.

Thursday the 27th of August is the only real glimmer of hope in the first week. The morning sees a bit of a pulse with swell from the east at 4ft and a 6-second period, with clean conditions thanks to a light cross-offshore breeze. The afternoon gets even better – glassy conditions with 5ft east swell. The combined energy reads 153, which is moderate, but the waves are still very ordinary. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it, and it’s nothing to write home about.

After that, we’re back into a slump. From Friday the 28th of August right through to the end of the first week of September, the swell drops to ankle-snapping levels, mostly under 3ft. The wind is mostly offshore or cross-off, keeping the surface clean, but there’s simply no energy in the water. The combined energy values are pathetic, often below 50 (42). It’s a desert out there.

The only other day that might get a look-in is Tuesday the 1st of September. A bigger pulse of 6ft north swell shows up, but the period is a weak 7 seconds and the wind is a fresh 30 km/h cross-offshore. The combined energy hits 349, which is moderate, but the “poor surf conditions” warning tells you everything. That much wind on a beach break with that short a period will be a messy, blown-out, onshore mess. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The final week doesn’t offer any redemption. More tiny, weak swells with cross-shore or onshore winds. The morning of Monday the 7th of September is the last chance, with a clean 3ft north swell and a 8-second period, combined energy of 91. It’s another “surfable but very ordinary” scenario. The rest of the time, it’s poor.

So, to sum it up: the only times to even consider paddling out are Thursday the 27th of August and Monday the 7th of September, and even then, expect weak, gutless waves. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit surprises there. For the rest of the 16 days, save your energy.

Rusty.

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