Monday and Tuesday
Weather
Dry and sunny with relatively low temperatures, but feeling comfortable due to the lightness of the breeze and the generally fine conditions. Monday’s breeze will be a force 2-3 NE’ly (max 8-9°C, min 4-5°C). Tuesday’s breeze will be a force 2-3 SE’ly (max 7-8°C, min 5-6°C).
Surf and the Water
The west-coast surf will be getting cleaner through Monday but also getting smaller I’m afraid… 2-3 feet in the morning then 1-2 feet in the afternoon. Then on Tuesday, it will stay small and clean but the swell will gradually become stronger through the day. As for the swimming conditions, they will be pretty comfortable in all parts (if you can say such a thing in winter), but most especially along the south coast on Monday and along the west coast on Tuesday. High tides will be shortly before dawn, roughly 8.2m on Monday and 8.4m on Tuesday. Low tides will be at lunchtime.
Wednesday
Weather
The only day of the week that is threatening to dump a little rain on us; nothing serious… just a shower or two, from a weak weather front that is caught between two high-pressure system (one declining over France and the building over Ireland). As these changes move through, the wind will change from a light W’ly in the morning to a moderate NW’ly in the afternoon and a fresh N’ly overnight. Max temp 9-10°C, min temp 7-8°C.
Surf and the Water
The west-coast surf will be a little bigger than the previous days, 3-4 feet or maybe even 5 if we are lucky. However, it will be a great idea not to leave it too late because the water will get choppier as the day progresses. As for you lovely swimmers, the south and east coasts will be smoothest for you. High water at breakfast time (roughly 8.6m), low water at lunchtime.
Thursday and Friday
Weather
These days are still expected to have a NE’ly airflow, which will lead to quite a lot of bubbly cloud developing where air converges at the east end of the Channel. However, it probably won’t ever be thick enough to produce and showers, and there will be some decent gaps to let the sunshine through at times. The temperature will be low on both days, hovering around 7-8°C by day and around 5-6°C by night. Thursday will probably feel colder though, because the wind will be moderate force 4 to fresh force 5, whereas on Friday it will only be light force 3. If seeking shelter from that chilly breeze, then the south-coast beaches and cliff paths will be a great place to go.
Surf and the Water
The west-coast surf will be 3-4 feet on Thursday, shrinking to 2-3 feet on Friday. However, Friday should be a good deal cleaner, as the cross-shore wind will be so much lighter. The tides will still be high around breakfast time (roughly 8.6m), but the lows will slip a little bit later into the afternoon.
The Weekend
Weather
It’s going to be more or less a continuation of the cold, dry and partially cloudy weather. Max temps around 7°C and min temps around 5°C. The main difference will be that the NE’ly wind will be replaced by a SE’ly (force 2-3 on Saturday and force 4-5 on Sunday). Just as good for drying laundry, just as demanding for hats and scarfs, but this time the south coast will be exposed rather than sheltered, so the most comfortable areas will be either along the west coast or in central parts.
Surf and the Water
The west coast surf should be 2 feet and clean on Saturday, but it will most likely be flat on Sunday. Swimmers will favour the west-coast too, and it will definitely best to get in quite early, when the sea walls will offer maximum shelter. High water will be at 9:10am on Saturday and 9:40am on Sunday.
The next forecast update will be on Tuesday or Wednesday…
Previous Weather Fox ForecastsTide Tables
Swim Conditions
Ormering
Lihou Causeway