Croyde Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for Croyde. Straight up, it's a bit of a mixed bag. We've got some serious energy coming through, but the wind is going to be a real pest for a lot of it. We're in for a solid run of swell, but the quality is going to be a struggle until we get a proper weather window.

The water is sitting at about 66°, which is more than 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That's a proper anomaly, so you can leave the thick winter wetsuit at home for now.

We kick off with Tuesday afternoon, 3 feet of WSW swell at 9 seconds, but it's coming in with a cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is 174, so there's some push there, but it's going to be choppy and messy. That poor surf rating is spot on.

Wednesday the 2nd through to Friday the 4th is where the swell really builds. We get up to 7 feet on Wednesday afternoon with the combined energy hitting a strong 462, but again, cross-onshore winds are ruining the party. Thursday is more of the same with 5 feet and lumpy conditions. Friday morning has the swell at 6 feet with the energy at 353 and the wind is coming straight onshore from the WNW. This is a full-on battle.

Saturday the 5th sees the swell dropping right back. We're looking at 2 feet to 3 feet with light winds, but it's a cross-on breeze, so barely surfable.

Now, here's where we get a little glimmer. Sunday the 6th. The swell is tiny, only 2 feet, but the wind goes cross-off from the SSE. It's clean, and the energy is a weak 71. It's surfable, but it's ordinary. You'd need a log and low expectations.

Monday the 7th is a proper standout, but you have to be careful. The swell jumps to 6 feet from the W with a very long period of 13 seconds. The combined energy is a whopping 1100 – that's strong wave energy. The wind is light to moderate, but it's onshore, creating fairly choppy conditions. The score is only a 2 out of 10 because of the wind and questionable tide. That long period from the west will mean the waves have real power, but it might be a bit fat and closed out on the beach. This is a session for experienced surfers only, as at 6 feet and that energy, it's not one for beginners.

Tuesday the 8th through to Thursday the 11th is more of the same – building swell but poor to marginal conditions thanks to strong cross-shore and onshore winds. The energy stays high, but the quality is just not there.

Then we get to the second standout. Friday the 11th. The swell is a modest 4 feet from the WSW at 8 seconds, with an energy of 269. But look at the wind: it's an offshore breeze from the ESE and it's clean. The score is a 2, and it's the best we have on paper. This is the window. The wind will groom the faces nicely. It won't be huge, but it will be clean and fun.

Saturday the 12th through to Sunday the 14th sees strong offshore winds again, but the swell energy is weak (down to 29 on Saturday). The waves are tiny and clean, but there's just not enough push. By Monday the 14th, the swell picks up to 5 feet with a 344 energy and fresh offshore winds, but the score is only a 1 due to marginal tide. It's a tease.

The final few days, the 15th and 16th, have some size (6 feet on the 15th with a 604 energy) but the wind swings cross-on or onshore again, ruining the quality.

So, here's the bottom line. The best bet in this whole period is Friday the 11th. It won't be the biggest swell of the fortnight, but that offshore wind in the afternoon with clean conditions will produce the most rideable waves. The Monday the 7th has the biggest power, but that onshore wind and very long period will make it a handful. For the rest, you're fighting the wind.

Rusty.

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