Salcombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then. I’m looking at what’s on the cards for Salcombe over the next couple of weeks and, to be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a good stretch coming up, but there’s a fair bit of wind to deal with, and the water is hanging at about 65°F, which is a touch warmer than what we’d normally expect for this time of year. Nothing extreme, but enough to take the edge off.

Alright, starting off, Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd are write-offs. Wednesday morning has a tiny 0.3ft windswell and a solid 22 mph cross-shore wind making a mess of things, and the afternoon jumps to 7ft but with a lumpy 6-second period that’s just ugly. Thursday brings some cleaner, cross-off wind but the waves are still around 5 to 5ft with short periods, and the score's just not there for a paddle.

Friday the 4th morning is where it first gets interesting. We’ve got a 7ft swell coming from the WSW with a 7-second period, moderate offshore wind from the NW, and the wave energy is solidly moderate at 427. It’s still a bit raw, but it’s the first time the wind lines up and the swell has some push. The Friday afternoon drops off a bit. Saturday the 5th looks incredible for those who love a glassy dawn patrol – no wind at all in the morning and 3ft of W swell with a 10-second period. The energy is moderate (197), and while the waves aren’t big, the clean conditions will make it feel better than it is. The afternoon sees a light southerly creep in, breaking the magic.

Sunday the 6th is a complete dud with tiny 2ft waves and onshore wind. Not worth even looking at.

Now, Monday the 7th is a standout for the first week. The morning shows a 4ft W swell with a very long 12-second period, clean offshore WNW wind at 16 mph, and wave energy is moderate at 412. That period is the key – that’s proper groundswell energy, and at Salcombe being a sheltered spot, it will wrap in cleanly. It’s not huge, but it’ll be better shaped and the paddle out will be easier with those long lulls. The afternoon picks up to 6ft but the wind swings more cross-off and the period stays long; still decent, but the morning is the pick.

Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th are frustrating because they’re clean and the swell is there, but the wind is howling at 19 to 25 mph. Wednesday morning is especially wild – 5ft of W swell with a 9-second period, but a strong offshore breeze at 25 mph makes it hard to paddle into. Strong wave energy at 614, but unless you’re an expert in a storm, it’s a battle.

Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th bring a decent pulse. Thursday has clean cross-off and offshore wind, with swell around 7 to 8ft from the WSW. The energy kicks up into the strong range (528 to 737). Friday the 11th morning is the best of this bunch: 8ft of W swell with an 8-second period, light offshore wind from the north at just 6 mph, and energy at 698. That’s the biggest, cleanest swell window of the week – good for experienced surfers, but at 8ft it’s getting too big for beginners.

Saturday the 12th morning is another glassy gem. 6ft of W swell with an 11-second period, glassy conditions with a slight southerly air, and strong energy at 683. That’s a proper autumn morning if I’ve seen one. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-shore wind.

Sunday the 13th is messy with rain and cross-shore wind, but Monday the 14th morning saves the week again: glassy conditions, 5ft of W swell with a 10-second period, and moderate to strong energy at 481. That’s a clean, user-friendly wave. Tuesday the 15th is clean with a very long 13-second period, but the swell drops to 4 to 5ft, making it more of a cruisy day.

The big one is Wednesday the 16th. Afternoon shows a massive 10ft swell from the SW with a short 9-second period, blowing offshore from the WNW at 25 mph. The combined energy is 1504 – that’s very strong. This is only for experts; at 10ft, it’s a serious session, and that strong offshore wind will make for clean, hollow walls, but paddling will be a mission. Thursday the 17th drops back to 5 to 5ft and is cleaner but ordinary.

The real standout date is Friday the 11th morning: 8ft of W swell, near-perfect light offshore wind, and strong energy. For the best quality, Monday the 7th morning with that long-period groundswell and clean offshore wind is a beauty for a point-style wave at Salcombe.

Rusty.

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