Scratby Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at Scratby. I’ll be honest with you, mate—it’s a grim outlook. We’re talking a 16-day window here, and there’s barely a bump worth paddling for. From now through to the middle of the month, it’s flat to tiny, with poor conditions and no real surf to speak of. The first day that even shows a pulse is Thursday, 20th August.

The water temperature is sitting at 20°, which is about 3° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a notable jump—the ocean’s got a real summer warmth to it, but it’s not doing a thing for the waves.

The first little flurry of energy arrives on Thursday, 20th August. The swell lifts to about 4ft, coming out of the NW with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is moderate, reading 135. It’s a short-period, choppy swell, so the waves will be weak and crumbly. The wind is cross-shore from the north at 18 mph, which keeps the surface messy. Not a looker.

Friday, 21st August, is a slight improvement. The swell holds around 4ft to 5ft, still from the north, with an 8-second period. Energy builds to 219 in the morning and 279 in the afternoon. The wind drops to a light 9 mph from the north, which is a cross-shore to cross-onshore direction. It’s not glassy, but the lighter breeze means the chop won’t be as bad. It’s still a pretty average wave, but it’s the best we’ve got.

If you’re really keen, Saturday, 22nd August, might be the biggest day of the whole run. The swell hits 5ft in the morning out of the north with a 9-second period, and the energy is a solid 351. That’s the biggest push. But the wind is onshore from the ENE at 12 mph, which will blow the surface out. For a beginner, 5ft is getting a bit full, and with that onshore wind, it’s going to be lumpy and hard work. For an experienced surfer, it’s rideable but not pretty.

The standout is Friday, 21st August, simply because it offers the best trade-off of size and lighter wind. The swell direction is north, which is fine for the exposed beach, but the short period means the waves will lack power and likely close out. It’s not a day to get excited about, but it’s the only window that’s even half-decent.

After that, it fades to nothing in the second week—tiny waves, onshore winds, and more of the same poor conditions. The forecast confidence is low for the long-range, but it’s unlikely to surprise us.

Scratby is an inconsistent spot at the best of times, and this run is a real blank one. If you’re a kite surfer, the strong cross-off and cross-shore winds on the 18th and 19th August might be more interesting than the wave options. For paddle surfing, keep an eye on Friday morning, 21st August, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty

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