Surf Forecasts:
Scarborough South Bay surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, NNE swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Scarborough South Bay this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Scarborough South Bay in the next 16 days are 0.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Scarborough South Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get into it. Scarborough South Bay is a beach and point setup that's fairly exposed to swell, and the optimum direction is from the north. The water temperature is sitting at 62°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
Honestly, the next week and a half look pretty bleak. There's a lot of small, weak energy and poor conditions. From Wednesday the 12th right through to the 20th of August, the surf is consistently poor. We're talking tiny waves, cross or onshore winds, and combined wave energy mostly in the double digits, well under 100. It's a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. The best you can say is there are a few clean windows, but with almost no swell to ride.
Now, things get interesting around the 21st of August. That Friday morning, we finally see a solid pulse of north swell pushing about 7 ft, combined energy of 613, and with a light offshore wind from the southwest. It's a clean, powerful setup. However, the swell period is a short 8 seconds, so it'll be a bit crumbly and not as well formed as we'd like. The afternoon turns choppy.
The real standout is Saturday morning, the 22nd of August. This is the best on offer in the whole 16-day window. We've got a 7 ft north swell rolling in, with a combined energy of 1174, which is strong. The wind is light and cross-off from the SSW, so the bay will be clean. The period is still 9 seconds, which is okay, but that size and those clean conditions make it the pick of the lot. Keep in mind, at 7 ft, this is getting into expert territory, especially for a beach and point setup. The afternoon does get messy with a cross-shore wind.
After that, the swell drops off quickly through the 23rd to the 27th, with poor conditions and onshore winds returning. There's a tiny window on the 25th with glassy conditions, but the swell is tiny and weak.
If you're looking for a session, forget the first week. Your best bet is saving your energy for that Saturday morning, the 22nd of August, at Scarborough South Bay. It's a promise, but being that far out, keep an eye on the forecasts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 49 | 45 | 38 | 9 | 10 | 55 | 18 | 29 | 35 | 29 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 25 | 26 | 5 | 29 | 37 | 77 | 48 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 4:54PM4.69m | 5:01AM5.03m | 5:40PM4.83m | 5:44AM5.22m | 6:23PM4.87m | 6:26AM5.28m | 7:02PM4.80m | 7:06AM5.18m | 7:40PM4.63m | 7:46AM4.95m | 8:18PM4.40m | 8:26AM4.61m | 8:55PM4.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:49AM0.11m | 11:07PM0.55m | 11:35AM-0.18m | 11:50PM0.42m | 12:18PM-0.32m | 00:30AM0.39m | 12:58PM-0.28m | 1:09AM0.44m | 1:37PM-0.08m | 1:46AM0.58m | 2:15PM0.26m | 2:24AM0.79m | 2:52PM0.67m | 3:02AM1.05m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — |
 | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 13 |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | ESE 4 | N 7 | ESE 5 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 5 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | 49 | 32 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 18 | 29 | 35 | 29 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 26 | 4 | 29 | 37 | 77 | 48 | 29 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 7 | — | N 9 | SE 5 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | — | E 3 | N 8 | — | N 10 | ESE 4 | — | SE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 4 | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 14 | 14 | — | 1 | 5 | — | 8 | 1 | — | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | N 12 | E 5 | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | NE 9 | ESE 4 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | NNW 3 | — | N 3 | N 4 | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | ESE 3 | E 4 | — | SE 4 | WSW 2 |
| kJ | 17 | 45 | 38 | 9 | 10 | 55 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 3 | 5 | — | 8 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 297 | 196 | 105 | 335 | 366 | 1 | 387 | 728 | 574 | 757 | 758 | 448 | 448 | 461 | 44 | 461 | 66 | 66 | 29 | 340 | 334 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North East England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Scarborough South Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Scarborough South Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Scarborough South Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Scarborough South Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Scarborough South Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Scarborough South Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Scarborough South Bay is 3 km (2 miles) from Scarborough. If you plan a holiday in North East England, look for hotels and other accommodation in Scarborough. Scarborough has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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