Bude Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what we’ve got for Bude over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you, mate – it’s a grim stretch, and I mean properly grim. The whole 16-day window is basically one long, frustrating wait for something that never really arrives. There are no good windows for a proper surf, not one.

We start off on Wednesday the 2nd with hardly any energy – a weak 3 ft of west swell at 6 seconds, which is just mush, and a stiff 22 mph crosswind from the south-southwest tearing it to bits. That combined energy reading is a paltry 72, which tells you all you need to know about the lack of punch. Water temps are sitting at 66°, which is a *much warmer than normal* anomaly of plus 4°, so it’s unseasonably balmy, but that’s about all the good news. Thursday and Friday are more of the same – building swell but always with a nasty onshore or cross-onshore wind, making it choppy and lumpy. Friday morning actually sees a 6 ft west swell, but it’s onshore at 19 mph with 8-second period, so it’s just a windy, blown-out mess. That energy hits 521, so there’s some power in the water, but the conditions are hopeless.

Now, Saturday the 5th is a real tease. We get a moment in the morning where the wind drops to absolutely glassy – zero from the south-west – and we’ve got a 4 ft west swell ticking over at a decent 10 seconds. The energy is moderate at 230, and it’s actually surfable, but the report says it’s just “very ordinary.” The period is long enough for those clean lines, but the swell’s not big enough to turn Bude on properly. After that, it’s back to the wilderness. Sunday and Monday are a write-off: tiny waves or huge, messy onshore swell.

The middle of the week kicks off with a big pulse on Monday the 7th – a 6 ft west swell that builds to 8 ft in the afternoon, with a solid 11 to 12-second period. The energy readings are massive: 988 in the morning and 1242 in the afternoon. That’s a lot of ocean moving, but the wind is a shocking 25 mph cross-onshore, so it’s a complete mess. For the experienced lads, you might find a couple of dredging, dangerous peaks if you’re brave, but for everyone else, this is strictly an onlooker’s day.

The week after goes totally flat. From the 10th of September right through to the 17th, we’re looking at tiny scraps of west swell – mostly under 2 ft, with periods all over the place and energy readings dropping to the low double digits. It’s a dead zone. There’s a brief glimmer on the 13th with a 4 ft west swell, but it’s cross-onshore and average. Nothing you’d get out of bed for. The entire second week offers absolutely nothing of note.

So, to sum it up: during the first week, that one glassy morning on Saturday the 5th is your best bet, and honestly, it’s not much to write home about. A clean 4 ft west swell is fun, but it’s not a standout. The rest is either too windy, too small, or too messy. There is no standout session in this entire outlook. If you absolutely have to get wet, that Saturday glass-off is the only window. Otherwise, leave the board in the van and go for a walk. The water’s warm, but that’s the only highlight.

Rusty.

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