Salcombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the South Hams over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with ya – this ain't the most inspiring forecast I’ve seen. We’re in for a long stretch of frustrating conditions before a couple of windows open up.

Right now, through most of the first week and into the second, Salcombe is getting battered by cross-off or onshore winds. It’s not gonna be a pretty sight. We’re looking at a real dry spell from now right through to around the 23rd of September. There are some pulses of swell in there, but the wind is just trashing any chance of quality. You’ll see waves, but they’ll be messy, lumpy, and not much fun. The best you can hope for is a couple of "poor surf conditions" days. The combined wave energy sits in the moderate range, but it’s not doing you any favors when the wind is howling from the west.

Now, there is a glimmer. For the morning of the 24th of September, we get a proper glass-off. The wind goes light from the east – 3 mph – and it goes glassy. That’s a major positive. Salcombe is a sheltered spot, and with a clean, glassy surface, a 4 ft swell from the west with an 11-second period will actually look pretty inviting. That’s groundswell, so you’ll get some proper lines and a bit more push. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing to write home about.

Then, hold onto your hats for the 25th of September. Friday afternoon, we get a 4 ft west swell, 13-second period, but this time with a moderate offshore wind from the northwest. That’s the standout. The combined wave energy jumps up to 656 – strong – and with that offshore breeze, the waves should have some real shape. It’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be a bit more peaky and might break a little straight on the beach, but the quality should be there for a good session.

So, to sum it up: mostly a write-off for the next week and a half. Don’t bother until the 24th. The 24th morning is your best bet for a glassy, clean session on a moderate swell. The real standout, though, is the afternoon of the 25th – that’s the one with the most potential for a proper wave with offshore wind. After that, it looks like it fades back into mediocrity.

Rusty.

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