Redcar Scars Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Honestly, the outlook for the next couple of weeks is a tough one. We’ve got a proper stretch of flat, weak, and messy conditions ahead, with very little to get excited about. The first real sniff of anything surfable doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, the 5th of August, and even then, it’s a scrappy little affair.

The water temperature is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won't be freezing while you're sitting there waiting for a wave.

Let’s break it down. The first few days are a write-off. Friday the 31st of July through to Tuesday the 4th of August is all tiny, weak swell with poor winds. The combined energy is low, ranging from 14 to 283 (weak to moderate), but the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, making it choppy and uninviting. The swell is small, between 1 ft and 5 ft, but it’s mostly wind-affected and short period (4-8 seconds), so there’s no real push.

Wednesday the 5th of August morning is the first time we get a “surfable” call, but it’s a very ordinary one. At Redcar Scars (reef), the swell is only 3 ft from the NE with a short 6-second period, and the combined energy is a weak 92. The wind is light from the south at 3 mph, giving us a clean cross-off, so the surface will be glassy. But these are ankle-to-knee-high, weak waves, and the break is known to be inconsistent. It’s a beginner-only option, and the crowd is likely to be around. It’s not terrible, but it’s not good.

The next real standout, and I mean the *only* one worth a proper look, is on Tuesday the 11th of August. Tuesday afternoon sees a modest bump in energy. The swell at Redcar Scars jumps to 6 ft from the N, with a 8-second period, and the combined energy hits 401 (strong). The wind is from the south at 12 mph, giving us a clean cross-off, so the surface should be clean. This is the biggest swell of the period and the most energy we’ll see. However, at 6 ft, it’s getting into the territory where it might be a bit much for beginners, and the short period (8 seconds) means it won’t have the best shape. It’s a marginal call, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Wednesday the 12th of August morning and afternoon also offer some hope. The swell drops to 4 ft from the NNE, with an 8-second period and a combined energy of 202 (moderate). The wind is offshore from the SW at 9 to 16 mph, giving us clean, groomed conditions. These are the most consistent, cleanest waves of the run, but still only waist-high. The break is a reef, so the longer-period swell (8 seconds isn’t long, but it’s better than the earlier 5-6 second stuff) should wrap in nicely, but the short period means it won’t have the punch of a groundswell.

After that, it fades out again. The 13th, 14th, and 15th of August are back to weak, small, and messy, with the wind turning onshore or cross-shore. The combined energy drops to double digits again, and the swell is tiny.

The bottom line: The best of a lackluster run is the afternoon of Tuesday the 11th of August and the morning of Wednesday the 12th of August. Tuesday the 11th has the most size and energy, but the shorter period is a letdown. Wednesday the 12th has the best combination of clean offshore wind and a decent, rideable 4 ft swell. It’s not going to be a classic, but if you’re desperate, that’s your window. The rest of the time, the board stays in the car.

Rusty.

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