Withernsea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a pretty grim run for Withernsea. The water temp is sitting at 65°F which is 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your toes off if you do decide to get wet, but the waves are a different story entirely.

The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t come until Sunday the 23rd of August, and even then it’s nothing to write home about. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the north with a 9-second period, combined energy of 181 (moderate), but the wind is light and cross-off from the WSW, which should keep it clean. It’s surfable, but the conditions are very ordinary. That’s the best we’ve got for a while.

Before that, from Wednesday the 19th all the way through to Saturday the 22nd, it’s a write-off. Tiny little waves under 2ft, weak energy (32), and onshore winds making a mess of things. Friday the 21st sees a bump in size – 7ft from the north in the morning – but with a short 7-second period and a stiff cross-on wind from the NNW, it’s lumpy and poor. That’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day, to be honest.

After that Sunday session, we’re back into a long, flat spell. From Monday the 24th all the way through to Tuesday the 1st of September, the swell drops back to under 3ft, mostly 1ft to 3ft, with weak energy between 8 and 68. The wind is often cross-off or offshore, keeping things clean, but there’s just no power. The swell period is short too – 5 to 7 seconds – so it’s all windswell and no grunt. You’d be bobbing around on a lake.

Then, things get a little more interesting around Wednesday the 2nd of September. We see a 5ft to 5ft swell from the northwest and north-northwest, with a short 5-6 second period, but wind is moderate cross-off from the west, so the surface stays clean. The combined energy is moderate (101 to 176). It’s not great, but it’s the most promising window in the whole outlook. The swell direction is northwest, which is not the optimum north for Withernsea, so the waves will be a bit crumbly, but if you’re desperate, that’s your window.

Thursday the 3rd of September holds similar – 4ft from the north and north-northeast, clean cross-off wind, but again short period and moderate energy. It’s consistent, but consistent mediocrity.

To sum it up: the first week is a bust. Sunday the 23rd is surfable but ordinary. Then a long gap with nothing until the 2nd and 3rd of September, which is the best bet – but it’s still only marginal. The confidence is decent for the near-term, but the long-range stuff is just a glimmer.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts. It can’t stay this poor forever.

Rusty.

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