Whitley Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks up at Whitley Bay.

To be straight with you, the numbers are real quiet for a long stretch. We’ve got a big gap of pretty much nothing happening until we get toward the tail end of next week. The water temp is sitting at about 59°F, which is bang on normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th – It’s tiny. We’re looking at knee-high slop at best. The swell is 0.7ft to 2ft from the north, with weak energy (6 to 31 in the bucket) and short periods of 7-8 seconds. Winds are cross-offshore, so the water is clean, but there’s just not enough push to get a decent ride. Honestly, not worth paddling out.

Thursday 20th – Here’s where it gets a little interesting, but not for everyone. A pulse of north-northeast swell rolls in, lifting to 5ft to 7ft. The energy jumps into the moderate range (164 to 382). Problem is, the wind swings hard from the north at 19 mph, cross-onshore, and the period is a short 6-7 seconds, so it’s lumpy, choppy, and a mess. The wave comment calls it “poor surf conditions.” If you are a beginner, that 5ft to 7ft with short period and strong onshore wind is not your friend. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Friday 21st morning – The biggest swell of the whole period hits. We see 7ft from the north, with massive combined energy hitting 1071 (strong to very strong). That is real power. The period stretches to 8 seconds. BUT, the wind is cross-onshore from the north-northwest at 9 mph. That north swell direction matches the optimum NNE direction reasonably well, but the onshore wind kills the quality. At over 7ft, this is experts-only territory, and it’s going to be lumpy and closed out at the beach. Only the most experienced should even consider it.

Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd – The swell drops back to 5ft to 3ft. Combined energy is still moderate (144 to 301). Winds are a mixed bag; Sunday morning looks best with light west winds (cross-off) and clean conditions on 3ft north-northeast swell. It’s ordinary, but at least surfable for a longboard or a foamie if you are desperate. Confidence is low for anything special.

Monday 24th onwards – We enter a long, dry spell. From the 24th of August all the way through to the 2nd of September, the swell is tiny, mostly under 2ft, with some days seeing barely a ripple (2 to 70 combined energy). There’s a bit of glassy conditions on the 24th morning, and offshore winds on the 30th and 31st, but there is simply no wave height to work with. Periods are short (5-8 seconds). The best we can say is the water will be clean and the wind off, but you’d be surfing flat water.

The Verdict: There really isn’t a standout session in this 16-day window. The closest we get to a proper wave is Friday 21st August morning, with that 7ft north swell, but the onshore wind chops it up. That’s the only time when the energy is truly pumping, but it is strictly for experts and even then, it won’t be pretty. For the rest of you, save your energy and wait for the next system. Those bigger north swells in the autumn can be magic, just not this time.

Rusty.

Read more