Withernsea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright surfers, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for Withernsea. It’s a bit of a struggle for the next couple of weeks, to be honest.

The overall picture is pretty flat and uninspiring. For the first week, we’re looking at tiny, weak waves and a whole lot of "poor surf conditions." There’s a long gap with nothing really rideable until we get towards the end of the first week. The water temp is sitting at about 63°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won't need the thickest suit.

Monday the 31st is a no-go. We’ve got tiny 1ft windswell from the north with a short 7-second period. The energy is weak (15), and conditions are clean but there’s just nothing to ride.

Tuesday the 1st of September isn't much better. A little bump to 2ft from the north, period still a short 6 seconds. The wind goes offshore in the afternoon which is nice, but the wave energy is still very low (35) and the waves are crumbly and weak.

Wednesday the 2nd is barely a ripple with 0.7ft swell.

Thursday the 3rd offers the first faint glimmer. The swell picks up to 2ft from the north, and the period stretches to 11 seconds – that’s proper long-period groundswell energy. The combined energy hits 84, which is still weak, but that long period means a bit more push. The afternoon sees offshore wind and clean conditions, making it the first truly *surfable* session, but it’s very ordinary. Not one to get excited about.

Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are back to small, weak windswell. Saturday afternoon does go glassy with 3ft, but the energy is still weak (68), so expect soft, gutless waves.

Sunday the 6th through to Wednesday the 10th is a long stretch of tiny, weak surf – mostly under 2ft. The wind is often offshore or cross-off, so conditions will be clean, but you'll be fighting for ankle-biters.

Now, things get a bit more interesting around Thursday the 10th of September. We see a jump in swell height to 4ft from the NNW, but the period is a short 6 seconds, making it messy windswell with moderate energy (130). The wind is strong offshore, so the surface will be clean and lined up, but that short period means it will be bumpy and sectiony.

Friday the 11th of September brings the biggest surf of the whole outlook. A solid 5ft north swell rolls in with an 8-second period. The energy ramps up to 359 – that’s moderate to strong. This is the standout. The size is good for intermediates, maybe pushing it for beginners at 5ft. However, the wind is cross-onshore from the north, making it choppy. On the bright side, the swell direction is straight out of the north, which is exactly what Withernsea wants. There will be some waves, but the onshore wind will mess with the shape.

Saturday the 12th of September sees a similar size (3ft) but a very long period of 13 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The energy is still high (324). But again, the wind is cross-onshore from the east, creating a light chop. That long period groundswell with a cross-on wind at a beach break like Withernsea will make for straight, fast-closing waves.

The second week, from around the 13th of September onwards, the size drops right back off. We’re into a pattern of tiny, clean, offshore windswells but with almost no energy – all readings under 100. The 15th of September has some promise with 2ft and clean offshore wind, but it’s just not enough to make a session worthwhile.

The best bet is absolutely Friday the 11th of September morning. It’s not perfect because of the onshore wind, but it’s the only time in this 16-day window where we get a decent dump of swell energy (359) and a half-decent size. If you’re an intermediate or expert and don’t mind a bit of chop, that’s your window. The Thursday before also has some energy, but the short period makes it messy.

For the rest of it? Bring a longboard or a kite. The combined swell energy values stay low for the vast majority of the time, so it’s going to be a quiet run. It can’t stay this poor forever though – forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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