Scratby Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Scratby over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – it’s a tough stretch. The water is sitting at about 68°F, which is a good 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so a spring suit might be a bit much right now. But the surf? Well, it’s pretty much a write-off for the first week. There’s a few days where the swell bumps up a bit, but the conditions just aren't there to make it worthwhile.

We get a whisper of hope on the morning of Friday the 21st, with a 4ft north swell and a cross-offshore wind, but the period is short at 6 seconds and the wave energy is still only moderate at 109. The quality is still rated as poor, so it’s not going to be a session to write home about. Saturday the 22nd sees a bit more push with a 5ft north swell, and the energy climbs to 162 on the morning, but that cross-off wind is packing 15 mph, making it a bit lumpy. Sunday the 23rd morning is the first real glimmer – a clean 3ft north swell with a light offshore wind from the WSW, and the energy is at 108. The report says it’s surfable, but “very ordinary.” That’s the best we’ve got.

After that, it’s back to poor conditions with onshore winds and choppy seas for the next few days. The swell direction swings around to the east on the 25th, bringing 5ft of short-period swell, but it’s blown out by strong onshore winds. A kite surfer might get a kick out of that setup, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a no-go.

The next real chance looks like Saturday the 29th. The afternoon session brings a solid 6ft north swell, with a clean offshore wind from the west at 15 mph. The energy is strong at 225, and it’s the best looking window in the whole forecast. It’s still only rated as “surfable but very ordinary,” but it’s the standout. Keep in mind, with a 6ft swell and a short 6-second period, it’s going to be a bit lumpy and a bit of a push for beginners. For the experienced crew, it’s the one to pencil in.

After that, it tails off again. The first week of September sees tiny, weak swells with almost no energy, and the offshore winds are clean but the waves are just too small to do anything with. We’re looking at a dry spell from the 30th of August right through to the end of the forecast on the 3rd of September, with nothing worth paddling out for.

So, to sum it up: Sunday the 23rd morning is a small, clean option, but the real standout is Saturday the 29th afternoon. It’s not perfect, but it’s the biggest and cleanest of a very poor bunch. The rest? Honestly, save your energy.

Rusty.

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