Croyde Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here, and I'm telling you, it's a tough outlook for Croyde. We've got a long, long stretch of poor surf before we see anything half-decent.

The big problem is wind. Most of the first week is plagued by onshore and cross-onshore breezes that are going to mess up whatever swell rolls in. Starting Sunday the 13th, we've got a 5ft WSW swell, but it's being trashed by a 15 mph cross-onshore wind, making for choppy, poor conditions. The water temp is 65°F, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year.

Monday the 14th is more of the same: a 4ft WSW swell with lumpy, fresh cross-onshore winds. Tuesday the 15th brings a bit more size, around 6ft from the West, but the period drops to a weak 7 seconds and the wind is still on it. This pattern of moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds and short-period, wind-affected swell will continue right through the week and into the weekend. The wave energy will be moderate for most of this period, but it’s all blown out. Honestly, this is looking more like a kitesurfing window than a paddle surfing one.

We finally get a break from the wind on Sunday the 20th. The afternoon brings a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE and a 3ft W swell. The comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and with low energy, it's small and weak. It's a 1/10, but it's the only window of clean-ish surf in the first week.

Then the swell dies. Monday the 21st is tiny (2ft), and while the wind goes light for a bit, there's just no power. The second week is a real desert. The 23rd of September has some size again, with a 7ft W swell, but it's getting hammered by a 19 mph cross-shore wind from the North – messy and lumpy. Too big for beginners, and too blown out for everyone else.

Your best bet is Thursday the 24th of September. We finally get a clean, moderate offshore wind from the East, and a 3ft N swell. The period is a short 5 seconds, so it won't have much punch, but it'll be clean. The energy is weak, but for a day of clean lines on a small board, it's your best option. Croyde can handle a N swell, but that short period means the waves will be a bit soft. Expect company – crowds are often here.

After that, the swell flat-lines into the end of the month. The 26th to the 28th has tiny, long-period W swells (0.7ft to 1ft) with clean offshore winds, but the energy is pitiful. It's glassy and clean, but you'll be scratching for anything rideable.

So, to wrap it up: the standout window is Thursday the 24th of September for a clean, small session. The rest is a write-off.

Rusty.

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