Salcombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down this 16-day stretch for our local patch.

Overall Pattern

Right, to be honest, this is a tough run for the next couple of weeks at Salcombe. We've got some energy coming in, but the wind and swell quality are just not playing ball. There's a long period of poor conditions before we see anything that might get our hopes up, and even then, it's a gamble. Don't get excited too early.

The Outlook

We start off with a frustrating gap. There's really nothing worth paddling out for until Wednesday morning, the 16th of September. The wind is howling out of the WNW at around 15-18 mph, making a mess of what little swell there is.

Wednesday morning the 16th is the only real highlight on offer, and even then, it's just a glimmer. Swell hits 6 ft from the west, with a moderate offshore breeze. The combined swell energy is a solid moderate 555, and the period is a workable 10 seconds. It's a beginner-friendly size, and the offshore wind will keep the faces clean. It's the best we get, but don't expect perfection. The water here is 63°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Crowds are always a thing at Salcombe, so you won't be alone.

After that morning, it's back into the doldrums. Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th see the swell bump up to 6-6 ft, but the period drops into the short and weak zone, and cross-off winds ruin the shape. By Saturday the 19th, the energy is all gone, and we're scraping the bottom of the barrel.

There’s a real dead zone from Sunday the 20th all the way through Monday the 28th. The swell is small, weak, and the wind is predominantly cross-shore or cross-onshore, sometimes blowing a fresh breeze. The wave energy values are often below 200, which is just pathetic. Even when we get a glassy morning on the 21st, the swell is a tiny 2 ft.

Then, out of nowhere, on Saturday the 26th of September, a massive lump of energy shows up. We're looking at 6 ft swell from the WSW with a very long 17-second period, and the combined swell energy rockets up to 1813 – that's strong energy. Problem is, the wind is howling out of the east at 15 mph, straight onshore at Salcombe, turning it into a washing machine. This one will be a complete write-off for a surf, but if you're into kitesurfing, that setup might have a bit more appeal.

The rest of the run into October is small, weak, and plagued by onshore or cross-shore winds. The 29th of September brings a tiny 1 ft swell with a glassy morning, but there's just no power.

The Pick

If you're desperate, your one shot is Wednesday morning, the 16th of September. Head to Salcombe for a beginner-friendly 6 ft west swell with a clean, offshore wind. It's only a "good" score, but in this bleak forecast, it's the standout by a long shot. Everything else is either blown out, too small, or too far away.

Rusty.

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