Bamburgh Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, this is a tough one. The 16-day window starts very flat, and it’s a grim wait for anything worth paddling out for. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak leftovers. The first proper chance doesn't even show up until the second week. You’ve got days of poor surf conditions with the swell energy in the single digits and 20s for a long stretch. The first record that even sniffs a wave is a tiny 0.3ft from the north with a period of 7 seconds and only 2 units of energy—that’s not surf, that’s a ripple in a bathtub.

From the 2nd right through the 10th of September, it’s mostly a waiting game. A few afternoons in that first week show some swell, but the wind is fresh and cross-off, keeping things clean but the energy is just too weak. The combined energy stays under 100 for almost all of it, with one or two days nudging into the low hundreds, but the swell height is barely breaking.

Finally, on Thursday afternoon the 10th of September, we get a pulse of swell at 6ft from the north, with a period of 7 seconds and 258 units of energy. That’s the biggest raw swell of the period, but the wind is cross-off and clean, and the period is short, so it’s going to be a bit walled-up and messy. Still, it’s the first real sign of life. Not for beginners though—that 6ft will be pushing it for inexperienced paddlers, especially with that short period making it dumpy.

The real standout, and the only one I’d really point you at, comes later. On Sunday the 13th of September, both morning and afternoon offer up 4ft swell from the NNE, with a period of 8 seconds, and light to moderate cross-off wind. The morning has a light breeze from the south, keeping it glassy. The combined energy is 189 in the morning, dropping to 175 in the afternoon. It’s not massive, but it’s the most persistent, clean window in the whole outlook. For a break that’s fairly exposed to the north-east and needs that optimum direction from the NE, this is as good as it’s going to get.

Monday the 14th of September afternoon also looks promising with offshore wind and 4ft swell (127 energy), but the morning is rain-soaked and ordinary.

Bottom line: this is a lean run. If you’re a beginner, wait until that 13th. If you’re an expert, the 10th might give you something to play with, but don’t expect perfection. For the most part, this coastline is quiet. If you’re a kiter, those early days with clean cross-off winds and some bump on the water might actually look more interesting than a surfboard.

Rusty.

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