Folkestone Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m lookin’ at the charts for Folkestone and, mate, it’s a tough stretch. This is a sheltered little nook that really needs a clean south-west groundswell and some friendly wind to light up, but that combo just isn’t comin’ together in this 16-day window. The water’s sitting at a balmy 64° – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezin’ waitin’ for a wave that never shows.

We’re startin’ right now, Thursday the 9th of July, and there’s absolutely zilch on offer. No swell, no shape, just a flat sea. That’s gonna drag on. Friday the 10th scrapes up a tiny 0.98-ft ENE bump with a short 4-second period, but with a fresh cross-shore 19 mph wind on it, it’s messy chop. Saturday and Sunday (11th and 12th) are no better – cross-shore winds are howlin’ at 19 to 28 mph, and while the swell climbs to 4-ft on Sunday morning, that combined energy is still weak at 74, and the strong breeze is just tearin’ it up. Sunday afternoon pushes 5-ft (136 combined energy), but it’s blown out and lumpy – that’s only for the hardcore crew, and even then it’s not pretty.

Monday the 13th through Wednesday the 15th is a rinse and repeat of 4-ft to 5-ft NE windswell with periods barely reaching 6 seconds. The wind stays cross or cross-off, and the sea state is mostly cross-chop. Wednesday afternoon finally cleans up a bit with a moderate cross-off, but the swell is still junk at 5-ft with a weak period. Then Thursday the 16th drops back to tiny 1-ft from the SSE. Honestly, through the first whole week, there’s not a single session I’d paddle out for.

Now, into the second week, it gets even quieter. Friday the 17th morning goes glassy, but there’s no swell – a complete blank. Saturday the 18th has a moderate offshore wind from the NW, but again, zero surf. Sunday the 19th finally coughs up a 1-ft to 2-ft NE bump with a 3-second period, and the wind turns offshore in the afternoon. It’s clean, but the combined energy is only 6 – that’s barely a ripple. You’d be bobbin’ around on a lake. Monday the 20th afternoon sees a little 3-ft SW swell creep in with gentle offshore breezes, and that’s the closest thing to a highlight across the whole outlook. Combined energy is still low at 28, and the period is a short 4 seconds, but at least it’s clean. Tuesday the 21st repeats that same 3-ft SW swell, but the wind shifts to cross-off and freshens up. After that, it’s back to tiny dribbles of SW swell (0.33-ft to 1-ft) with clean cross-off or offshore winds through Wednesday the 22nd to Friday the 24th, but there’s just no energy to work with – combined energy values are 1 or 2. Friday afternoon turns glassy again, but with only 1-ft of 3-second slop, it’s still a flat day.

So, the best on offer? Honestly, there isn’t one true standout. The only window with something rideable and clean is Monday the 20th afternoon into Tuesday the 21st, when that little 3-ft SW swell shows up with offshore or clean cross-off wind. Folkestone is an inconsistent spot that needs the right direction, and this 16-day forecast is a long, flat run. For a more exposed beach setup like this, with the swell being weak and the wind often strong and cross-shore, it’s looking more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer for most of this period. Hang tight – forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a bleak one.

Rusty.

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