Withernsea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's be straight with you – it's a tough stretch of water to look at for the next sixteen days here at Withernsea. The forecast is pretty grim for any proper surfing, so let's get into it.

We’re looking at a long, dry spell to start. From now through the weekend of the 26th and 27th of July, don’t even bother. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3 feet, and the energy is pitiful, reading between 6 and 60 units of energy. It’s just not happening. The water temp is sitting at 60°F, which is bang on average for the time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re staring at a flat ocean.

The first real chance to at least get a wet suit on comes on Monday, the 27th of July. The morning will see a small 3 foot swell from the north with a period of 8 seconds, which is short-period windswell, nothing special. The combined energy is a weak 80, and it’s described as "surfable but very ordinary." The wind is a light cross-offshore from the WNW, making it clean. The afternoon gets even better with glassy conditions from a light ESE wind, and the energy bumps up to 89. It’s not a standout, but it’s the only window where you might get a few grovelly ones. The swell height is under 5 feet, so it’s safe for beginners, but it’s inconsistent, so don't expect a wave every set.

After that, it drops back to nothing for a few days. The next real flicker of hope is on Friday, the 31st of July. This is the best of a rough bunch. The morning brings a 4 foot swell from the north with a 5-second period, and the combined energy is 82. The real key is the wind: a solid 12 mph offshore from the southwest. It’s moderate offshore and clean. The afternoon picks up to 4 feet, period 6 seconds, and the energy hits 110. With 16 mph offshore winds, it’s still clean. This is the only time the swell gets over 3 feet and the wind is offshore. It’s still a short-period windswell, so it’s not going to have any grunt, but it’s the best you’re going to get. The break is inconsistent, so you’ll be sitting and waiting.

Then from the 1st of August onwards, it’s a write-off. The wind gets howling – 25 to 28 mph offshore on Saturday the 1st, which is so strong it’ll be hard to even paddle into the tiny 1 to 2 foot waves. The rest of the forecast is just small, onshore, choppy junk. The energy numbers are all in the single digits or low twenties, which is basically nothing.

To be honest, for a beach break like Withernsea with these tiny, short-period swells and strong winds, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The crowds are listed as "sometimes" possible, but honestly, I don’t think you’ll see a soul in the water for most of this run.

Keep an eye on the 31st of July, that’s your one shot. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more