Croyde Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good long look at what Croyde’s got lined up for us over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a bit of a mixed bag, and we’re gonna have to wait for the real action.

Overall, the pattern starts off pretty flat and unfriendly, with a long stretch of poor conditions. The water’s sitting at 63°F, which is a solid 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s noticeably warm, almost like a late summer holdover. But don’t let that fool you; the surf is mostly a no-go for a while.

Right now, from Sunday the 5th through to Thursday the 10th, it’s grim. Tiny waves, onshore or cross-onshore winds, and weak, choppy energy. The combined swell energy is barely cracking 80 (82 at best on Sunday morning), and that’s with a short-period, messy wind swell. Nothing worth paddling out for. The first glimmer comes Friday the 10th morning – offshore wind from the east at 12 mph, and a clean 2-foot swell from the west with a 9-second period. The combined energy is only 57, so it’s small and ordinary, but at least it’s clean. That’s your first real chance for a sneaky session if you’re desperate.

Saturday the 11th gets a bit bigger (3 ft to 4 ft) but cross-onshore winds and short periods (5-7 seconds) make it choppy and messy – not quality surfing.

Sunday the 12th morning has a strong east offshore wind at 16 mph, but the swell drops to 3 ft from the north with a tiny 4-second period, so it’s all chop and no power. Combined energy a pathetic 37.

Things stay poor through Monday and Tuesday the 13th-14th, though on Tuesday the 14th morning we finally see a jump in quality. Offshore east-northeast wind at 16 mph, 2 ft from the west with a solid 11-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy starting to push in. Combined energy hits 128 (moderate) and the waves are surfable, though still ordinary. That’s a real turning point.

Wednesday the 15th morning is similar: east offshore 12 mph, 2 ft west swell at 9 seconds, energy 63. Clean but small.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The standout period looks like Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th. On Sunday the 19th afternoon, we’ve got 7 ft swell from the west at 8 seconds – combined energy 459, which is strong. But the wind is cross-onshore from the west-southwest at 12 mph, so it’s gonna be lumpy and messy. That’s big, but not clean. Then Monday the 20th morning: 6 ft west swell, 9-second period, but a fresh cross-onshore northwest wind at 22 mph – energy 528, very strong, but again, lumpy and rough. By Monday afternoon, 6 ft from the west, 9 seconds, onshore wind at 19 mph from the west-northwest, combined energy 908 – that’s very strong. Honestly, with that much wind and size, Croyde is gonna be a washing machine. This is more of a kitesurfing setup than a clean paddle session. The break is exposed and a beach setup, so for most surfers, that’s a pass unless you’re a masochist.

The single best window? I’d say Tuesday the 14th morning is the pick of the bunch. Offshore wind, moderate energy (128), 2 ft west swell with an 11-second groundswell period – that’ll produce clean, lined-up waves at Croyde. It’s small but quality. And since Croyde is very consistent, you know it’ll be breaking. Crowds can be an issue here (often busy), but with it being a Tuesday morning, you might get lucky.

So wrap-up: a long, flat, rubbish start, then a few clean but small days from the 10th to the 15th, then a messy, windy, powerful end to the forecast. If you want clean waves, aim for the 14th. If you want to get thrashed, the 20th is for chargers only.

Stay safe out there, and don’t force it when it’s crap.

– Rusty

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