Croyde Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Croyde over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you—it’s a bit of a rough start, but there’s a little glimmer of hope if you’re willing to wait.

The water temperature is sitting at 67°, which is a good 5° above the norm for this time of year. That’s much warmer than usual, so you might not need the thickest suit just yet.

The first few days are pretty grim, to be honest. Wednesday the 26th has tiny 1ft waves from the west with a short 8-second period, and the energy is weak at just 27. It’s cross-offshore but the swell is so small it’s hardly worth paddling out for. Thursday the 27th is even smaller, with 1.0ft waves and a period of 7 seconds, and the wind swings around to a strong 15 mph onshore in the afternoon, making it messy. Friday the 28th sees a bump in swell to 7ft from the WSW, but the period is still short at 7 seconds and the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-onshore, so it’s going to be lumpy and choppy. Not good.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are both blown out with strong winds and messy conditions. The swell is around 5ft to 6ft, but with periods of 6 to 9 seconds and wind speeds up to 31 mph, it’s more of a kite-surfing setup than anything for a paddle surfer. The energy is moderate (184 to 504), but the quality is poor.

Monday the 31st of August brings the biggest swell of the period—8ft from the west with a 10-second period and very strong energy reading of 1229. That’s a lot of power, but with a fresh 19 mph onshore wind, it’s going to be wild and only for experts. The rest of the first week into early September stays poor, with onshore winds, lumpy waves, and generally poor surf conditions. The energy drops off mid-week, with 3ft waves and only 84 energy on Wednesday the 2nd.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The best window we’ve got is on Sunday the 6th of September. The morning brings 6ft from the WSW with an 8-second period, and the wind is light ESE at 3 mph, making it cross-offshore and clean. The afternoon is even better: 7ft from the WSW, 7-second period, and the wind turns glassy from the east at just 3 mph. The energy is moderate at 461 to 492, and the forecast says to expect good surf conditions. This is your standout session—clean, glassy waves at Croyde with a decent size for intermediates. Crowds are likely, so get in early.

Monday the 7th of September has a smaller 4ft morning with a cross-offshore breeze, but it’s more marginal. The rest of the second week trails off into small, onshore, and choppy conditions, with nothing really worth chasing.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off unless you’re a hardcore kiter. The real chance is Sunday the 6th of September—that’s the one to circle. Everything else is best left for a day on the beach, not in the water.

Rusty

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