Croyde Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, and I’ve got the full 16-day picture for you. Let’s be straight up front: this is a quiet, tricky stretch, and the standout moment is short-lived. Croyde (North Devon) is the only show in town, and it’s one of those periods where you have to be patient and pick your moments.

The good news is the water is sitting at 66°F, which is a solid 4°F above the long-term average for this time of year – that’s notably warm, so you won’t need a thick suit. The bad news is that for most of the run, the swell is tiny and the wind is messy.

The very first real chance comes on Wednesday morning, 12th August. The swell is only 2ft from the west, but it’s got a clean 10-second period, and the wind is offshore from the east at 9 mph. That’s a glassy, clean setup. Combined swell energy is low at 99, but it’s the best we’ll see for a while. It’s small, but it’s clean.

From Wednesday afternoon right through to the end of the first week, it’s a tough slog. The swell nudges up to 3ft at times, but the wind turns onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy stays moderate at best – around 100 to 225 on the combined energy scale. Conditions are generally poor, often choppy or messy. Thursday 13th through Saturday 15th are a write-off for clean waves.

Sunday 16th is a weird one – glassy in the morning with no wind, but the swell is just 2ft and period is short at 7 seconds. You’ll be bobbing around for nothing.

Then we hit a gap. From Monday 17th through to Friday 21st, the swell is weak and inconsistent. The only half-decent moment is Monday afternoon, 17th August, with a 4ft west swell and clean cross-off wind from the northeast, but the energy is still only moderate (182). It’s surfable, but nothing special.

The standout of the entire forecast comes on Sunday 23rd August. We finally see a proper pulse: 7ft to 8ft from the southwest, with a period of 8 seconds – that’s a short-period swell, so it’ll be a bit fat and poopier than a longer period, but it’s the biggest we’ve got. Combined energy jumps to 566 on Sunday morning and 759 by the afternoon. That’s proper wave energy. BUT – the wind is a problem. It’s onshore or strong cross-onshore, hitting 25 mph from the southwest. That’s going to blow it out and make it messy. For experienced surfers only, and even then, expect a battle.

The next day, Monday 24th August, is even bigger – 12ft from the west-southwest, energy at 2194 – but it’s straight onshore at 31 mph from the west-northwest. That’s a full-on storm. Unless you’re a lunatic on a big board, stay on the beach. This is more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle day.

After that, the swell drops quickly. Tuesday 25th still has 8ft, but it’s onshore again. By Wednesday 26th, we’re back to tiny, weak surf.

So here’s the summary: Wednesday morning 12th August is your best clean, small window. The real size arrives on Sunday 23rd August, but it’s blown out – only for the brave or the kite crew. The rest is a waiting game. If you’re after a real standout, I’d say the Wednesday morning 12th is the most user-friendly, clean session of the whole 16 days. Don’t hold your breath for much else.

Rusty.

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