Saunton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, it’s a pretty quiet start. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, poor-quality surf with barely a ripple to get excited about. From the get-go, the conditions are just not cooperating. The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t show up until Wednesday, the 12th of August, so we’ve got a solid week of flat or choppy, onshore junk to sit through. It’s one of those periods where you’d be better off sorting your gear or doing some beach clean-up.

The first sign of life comes on the morning of Wednesday, the 12th. Saunton picks up a tiny 2ft swell from the west, with a period of 10 seconds. The wind is glassy, and it’s clean. The combined energy is weak (72), so it’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s surfable if you’re desperate for a paddle. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

Things stay marginal through the rest of that week. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, keeping the waves messy. The swell sticks around the 3ft mark from the west-southwest, with periods around 9 seconds. The energy picks up a little—moderate at 106 and 113 on Thursday the 13th—but the wind just doesn’t let it clean up. You’ll get some workable waves, but it’s a grind.

The standout in this entire forecast window is Monday, the 17th of August. The morning sees a 3ft west swell, period 11 seconds, but the real kicker is the afternoon. We get a 5ft swell from the west-southwest, with a period of 10 seconds and a strong combined energy of 386 (moderate). The wind is onshore, so it’s not perfect, but this is the biggest pulse of the run. For the more experienced crew, the swell is just under 5ft, so it’s still manageable for intermediates, but the onshore wind will make it a bit sloppy. This is the best on offer, but don’t expect it to be a classic.

The 18th of August (Tuesday) brings a similar size, with 5ft from the west in the morning, but the wind is screaming onshore at 25 mph, and the combined energy is strong (289). That’s messy, blown-out conditions. The break is a beach setup, so honestly, this looks more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Later in the week, on the 20th of August (Thursday), we get a 6ft west swell with a period of 7 seconds and a short, choppy period. The wind is cross-shore, strong at 25 mph, with a combined energy of 341 (moderate). That’s a powerful, messy, onshore mess. Again, for the experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a battle.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off. The best bet is the afternoon of Monday the 17th, but it’s not a day to write home about. If you’re just looking to get wet, the morning of the 12th is your best bet for a clean, small wave. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but this one’s a tough watch.

Rusty.

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