Surf Forecasts:
Whitby surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, N swell with 607 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period with NNE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whitby this week:
The surf forecast for Whitby over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whitby in the next 16 days are 2.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whitby over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get straight into it. I'm looking at the next couple of weeks for Whitby, and I gotta be honest with you – it's a bit of a rough patch ahead.
The water’s sitting at 62°F, which feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s looking up.
We start off Sunday the 16th with barely a bump. The swell’s a tiny 1.0ft from the north, and with a cross-shore wind, it’s gonna be poor. That’s the theme through the early part of the week. The swell stays small – basically nothing – through Monday and Tuesday, with the odd clean window on Tuesday when a WNW cross-off breeze cleans things up, but there’s just no power in the water.
We do see a pulse of energy building toward the end of the week. Thursday the 20th the swell picks up to 5-5ft, but it’s short period (6 seconds), so it’s gonna be lumpy and messy with a stiff cross-onshore. Then Friday the 21st the swell jumps to 7ft from the north, and the combined energy climbs to 566 (Saturday). That’s a lot of juice, but the period is still only 8-9 seconds and the wind is cross-shore or cross-onshore, so it’s gonna be choppy and unruly. That kind of size with short period and onshore wind is not gonna be pretty – more of a wind-swell mess. For experienced surfers only, if you’re desperate.
Saturday the 22nd still has good size, around 6-6ft (NNE, 9 seconds), but again, it’s cross-onshore and choppy. It’s rated as marginal at best.
The only real standout window is Sunday the 23rd in the morning. We’ve got 4ft from the NNE with a light WNW cross-off breeze, 5 km/h. That’s clean. The period is 8 seconds, which is average, but the combined energy is 211, so there’s some push. It’s not gonna be a classic, but with the wind glassing it off and the size manageable for intermediates, it’s the best we’re gonna see in this run. Crowds are often here, so expect company.
After that, we drop right back down. Monday the 24th through to the end of the month sees tiny, weak swell – mostly under 2ft – with inconsistent light winds. There’s a brief uptick on the 30th with a 4ft NNW swell and a gusty SSW wind, but that’s not going to be clean.
Honestly, it’s a lean run. The first week is pretty much a write-off, with only that Sunday the 23rd morning offering anything worth paddling out for. The second week is even more sparse. Sometimes that’s just how it goes around here. Don’t put the boards away, though – forecasts can change.
Stay frothy,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 14 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 28 | 44 | 43 | 28 | 134 | 178 | 442 | 566 | 607 | 488 | 474 | 477 | 380 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:29PM5.36m | 7:36AM5.63m | 8:06PM5.12m | 8:14AM5.35m | 8:44PM4.86m | 8:56AM5.01m | 9:27PM4.60m | 9:45AM4.66m | 10:19PM4.38m | 10:51AM4.35m | 11:30PM4.24m | 12:19PM4.20m | 00:53AM4.27m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:25PM0.68m | 1:30AM1.34m | 2:01PM0.99m | 2:06AM1.56m | 2:38PM1.36m | 2:43AM1.83m | 3:17PM1.77m | 3:25AM2.13m | 4:02PM2.17m | 4:19AM2.42m | 5:04PM2.50m | 5:44AM2.61m | 6:35PM2.66m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | |  |  | |
 | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | — | NNE 9 |
| kJ | 14 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 28 | 44 | 43 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | 488 | 474 | — | 380 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | N 4 | — | — | — | NNE 5 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 2 | W 2 | NW 2 | — | WSW 2 | WSW 3 | SW 2 | N 6 | N 6 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | — | — | NNE 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 134 | 178 | 442 | 566 | 607 | — | — | 477 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 379 | 440 | 344 | 342 | 383 | 501 | 496 | 1337 | 241 | 394 | 393 | 383 | 77 | 739 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 4 | 4 | 77 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North East England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Whitby Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Whitby provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whitby can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whitby surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Whitby) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Whitby may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in North East England? If you are looking for accommodation near Whitby, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in North East England, consider staying in Waverley which is 1 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around North East England where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Whitby which is 1 km (1 miles) away, Scarborough, Guisborough and Redcar.
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