Scratby Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a proper look at what’s on offer for Scratby over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, I’ve gotta be honest with you – it’s a pretty grim outlook. We’re staring down the barrel of a long, flat spell. There isn’t a single recommendation in the whole 16-day run, and that’s a tough pill to swallow. The first real slice of anything that even looks like surf doesn’t show up until Saturday the 18th, and even then, it’s not pretty.

We start off with a blank week, basically. From Monday the 13th right through to early Saturday the 18th, it’s all poor surf conditions. The wind is howling from the NNE and NE at 15-19 mph, cross-onshore, and the water is chopped up and lumpy. The swell is tiny – mostly under 3 feet – and the period is short, around 4-6 seconds, which is just wind slop. There’s no energy in the water (combined energy below 100), and it’s not worth paddling out for.

Then, on Saturday the 18th, the morning is still flat, but by the afternoon we see a little pulse of 4ft from the north. The period is still short at 6 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 102 (moderate), but the wind is a fresh 19 mph from the NNW. It’s described as cross-offshore and clean, which sounds nice, but 4ft of short-period north swell with that much wind on it is going to be pretty average. It’s a beginner wave at best, but the conditions are still poor.

Sunday the 19th is the closest we get to anything interesting. The swell picks up to 6-6ft from the north, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 359 and then 472 – that’s a moderate to strong wave energy. But here’s the kicker: the wind is cross-shore from the N at 12-16 mph, creating a cross-chop. It’s not clean, and for a beach break like Scratby, that north swell with a moderate breeze will be pretty messy and hard to read. For the more experienced folks, 6ft with that energy might offer a few bowls, but it won't be pretty. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

Monday the 20th sees a drop back to 5-5ft north swell, still with the same cross-shore wind issue. After that, it fades away into tiny leftovers for the rest of the week, with the wind eventually going light offshore on the 22nd, but the swell is a pathetic 1ft.

To be fair, Scratby is an inconsistent spot, so this kind of blank run isn't totally abnormal. The waves just aren’t going to line up. If you’re desperate, the closest you’ll get to anything rideable is Saturday afternoon the 18th through to Monday the 20th, but don’t expect anything memorable. The wind is just never on your side. Honestly, with that onshore wind and the size, this looks more interesting for a kite session than a proper paddle surf.

Stay patient, mate. Things can change.

Rusty

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