Cromer Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: this is a bleak run for the Cromer (beach/pier) stretch. Over the next 16 days, the wave models are serving up basically nothing worth paddling out for. The whole period is a write-off; there’s not a single day that offers safe, clean, or fun surf. We’re looking at a solid 15-day gap from the start of the forecast until the very end, with no genuine recommendations at all.

The first few days into late July are dominated by weak, short-period windswell from the north, with combined energy barely reaching triple digits on the weekend (moderate wave energy at 167 on the 18th, and 422 on the 19th). That sounds bigger than it is, but the wind is hammering it. Onshore breezes from the NNW and N are blowing 12-22 mph, creating poor, choppy conditions. The morning of the 19th sees a 6ft swell from the north with an 8-second period, but with a 22 mph onshore wind, it’s just a messy, blown-out whitewash, not surfable.

The whole first week stays weak. Swell heights bob around 2ft to 4ft, periods drop to 4-7 seconds, and the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore. The combined energy is mostly weak, with values like 12, 13, 35, and 57. The 23rd offers a 5ft swell, but it’s cross-onshore with a moderate breeze; the wave comment calls it "poor". The 26th looks a little cleaner with a light ESE cross-offshore wind in the afternoon, but the swell is only 3ft from the north at 7 seconds, and the energy is still just moderate (106). It’s a small, weak wave, not worth the effort.

Into the second week, it gets even smaller. From the 27th onward, we’re looking at 0.7ft to 3ft on most days, with periods of 4-6 seconds and combined energy dropping to single digits or low double digits. The 31st of July sees a slight pulse of 4ft swell from the ENE, but it’s a 5-second period with cross-shore wind – still poor. The 1st of August finishes with a 2ft windswell and onshore breeze.

Bottom line: The water temperature is about average for this time of year, but that doesn’t help. There’s no standout day, no hidden gem. For this stretch, a blank run like this is normal; the North Sea can be a fickle beast. Leave the boards in the van and give it a miss. If the wind ever swings clean offshore with a proper groundswell, we’ll have a chat. Until then, it’s a no-go.

Rusty.

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