Croyde Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. To be honest, the next week and a half is a bit of a write-off for Croyde. There’s a huge gap of poor conditions right from the start, and it’s not until the very end of the period that we finally see a proper window. So, if you’re looking for a wave, you’ll be waiting a while.

Right now, Friday the 24th morning is glassy, but the swell is tiny at 0.3 ft from the SW with a long period of 13 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 15, so you’re basically looking at a lake. The water is much warmer than usual for this time of year at 65°. That little bit of hope fades fast as the wind swings onshore and stays there for days. Saturday the 25th is a complete no-go with onshore wind up to 19 mph, and even though the swell pushes to 3 ft, the period drops to a pathetic 5 seconds, so it’s just messy wind chop. Sunday the 26th sees the swell finally pick up to 6 ft with a 7-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 248, but that strong cross-onshore wind from the WNW at 22 mph will ruin it. We’re looking at fresh cross-onshore and lumpy conditions. Not worth the paddle.

The whole of the following week (Monday the 27th through to Friday the 31st) is a similar story. Swell hangs around the 0.7 ft to 3 ft mark, but the wind is never clean, and the energy is low. A few moments of glass early on the 30th, but the swell is tiny at 1 ft. It’s a frustrating pattern.

Now, finally, something to get excited about. On Saturday the 1st of August, the morning session is the standout of the entire 16-day run. We’ve got a clean 6 ft groundswell from the WSW with a very long period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is strong at 887. The wind is glassy from the N at just 3 mph, which means it’s going to be absolutely clean. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Croyde is exposed to the WSW, and with that direction and period, it’s going to unload with proper shape. The afternoon looks less promising as the wind swings onshore, so get out early. This swell is a touch over 5 ft, so it might be a bit much for beginners, but for intermediates it’s going to be a blast.

After that, the quality drops off again. Sunday the 2nd of August has onshore wind and dropping swell, and the rest of the week sees the swell toy with the 3 ft to 7 ft range, but the wind is always onshore or cross-onshore, and the period is short, creating poor, lumpy conditions. The 5th of August shows a solid 7 ft swell from the WSW, but with onshore wind at 19 mph and a short 8-second period, it’s going to be a messy, blown-out wall. That’s kite-surfing terrain, not for a paddle surfer.

So, the long and short of it: be patient. The only real standout is the morning of Saturday the 1st of August. It’s the one clean, powerful window in a forecast full of waiting.

Rusty.

Read more