Whitley Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – it’s a long, lean stretch. The models are showing a real dry spell, and the first chance of anything worth paddling for doesn’t show up until the very end of the forecast.

From Monday the 31st of August through to the 12th of September, the surf is flat or nearly flat. The wind is mostly cross-off or offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s zero power. Swell heights are stuck under 2 feet, with periods so short the waves are just bumpy. The combined energy readings are all in the double digits, barely cracking 100. It’s a complete blank run. You’d be better off checking the tide charts and waiting.

The first real pulse of energy hits on Thursday, the 10th of September, into Friday, the 11th. I’m talking about Whitley Bay. On Thursday afternoon, a north-northeast swell starts to build, pushing about 4 feet with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 166, which is a moderate push. The wind is a fresh cross-off from the west, so it’ll be clean, but that short period means it’s going to be a bit crumbly and soft. Not a classic, but it’s the first time the water looks alive.

The standout window, and honestly the only one worth getting excited about, is Friday, the 11th of September. The swell holds around 3 feet from the north, but the period stretches to 8 seconds, and the energy builds to 223. That’s a solid moderate push. The wind is light from the north-northwest in the morning, just a light cross-shore, keeping things a bit bumpy but workable. By the afternoon, the wind swings onshore, making it choppy. The morning session is your best bet. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best on offer in this whole 16-day window.

After that, Saturday the 12th shows a bit more size – about 4 feet from the north-northeast with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 295. That’s a solid wave. But the wind is onshore from the northeast, which is going to chop it up badly. The data flags it as marginal, and for a beach break, a long-period swell like this (10 seconds) tends to stand up and close out, especially with the wind messing it up. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.

Sunday the 13th sees a drop back to about 3 feet from the north-northeast, with light offshore wind from the southwest. The energy drops to 69. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. After that, the ocean goes back to sleep for the rest of the window.

So, to sum it up: the best and only real stand-out is Friday morning, the 11th of September at Whitley Bay. The water temp is about 60°, which is a full degree warmer than average for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest suit. The north swell (about 3 feet) with a light wind is your best chance. Don’t expect a classic, but it’s the only game in town.

Rusty.

Read more