Croyde Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what’s happening for our stretch of coast.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 66°, which is a good 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a real standout, so you’ll be comfortable in a shorty or even a springsuit.

Now, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next week and a bit is a tough watch. The only real option on the table is Croyde, and it’s a proper mixed bag. We’ve got some solid swell energy coming through, with the combined energy hitting 1060 (moderate to strong energy) on Monday afternoon, but the wind is howling from the WSW at 19 mph and it’s onshore. That’s gonna make a mess of the 6 ft W swell. The period is a clean 13 seconds, which is proper groundswell, but with that wind it’s going to be a battle.

The 8th and 9th aren’t much better. The swell drops a bit, but we’re still looking at cross-onshore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The energy is still there, around 614 and 237, but the quality is just not there for a decent paddle.

We get a bit of a lull from the 10th through to the 16th. The swell drops right off, with heights under 3 ft and combined energy mostly under 100 (weak energy). It’s just not doing anything for a surf. The winds are all over the shop, mostly cross-onshore, so it’s a write-off. There’s a stretch of about 6 days where I wouldn’t even bother waxing up.

Then things get interesting, but for a different reason. By the 17th of September, the swell is tiny – 1 ft from the west with a 9-second period. The combined energy is a measly 15 (weak energy). But, the wind finally goes light offshore out of the ESE and ENE, and the sea surface is clean. It’s not surfable, but it’s a sign that the pattern is shifting. The 18th and 19th mornings are also clean, but still, the swell is too small to ride.

It’s not until the 20th of September that we see a pulse of life. Swell bumps back up to 4 ft from the west, period hits 10 seconds, and the wind is onshore from the WNW. The energy is back up to 330 (moderate energy). The conditions are listed as “unknown,” but that’s a better bet than anything we’ve seen in the prior week. The 21st and 22nd keep the energy moderate, but the wind gets strong and messy again.

So, the honest truth? There’s no standout session in this 16-day window. The best bet, if you’re desperate, is the 20th and 20th afternoon for that 4 ft W swell at Croyde when the wind is just onshore, but it’s far from clean. It’s a pretty grim run, to be honest. The forecasts change, but right now, I’d be finding something else to do.

Rusty.

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