Scratby Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this forecast is a tough one. We’re looking at a 16-day window for Scratby, and for the first week and a half, it’s more about watching the horizon than riding it. There’s a big gap of nothing really worth getting wet for until we get a tiny window of something that actually looks like surf.

The opening run from Tuesday, July 14th through to Saturday, July 19th is a write-off. We’ve got a mix of onshore and cross-shore winds, mostly from the NE and NNE, kicking up a chop. The swell is small, between 2 ft and 4 ft, but with short periods of 4 to 7 seconds, it’s just weak, messy energy. The combined energy figures are all in the double digits (87, 40, 29, 21, 7, 29, 37, 113, 131, 226, 359) – that’s weak to moderate, but the wind just ruins any chance of a clean face. It’s poor surf conditions all the way.

Now, there is a flicker of hope. On Monday morning, July 20th, we get a moment of pure magic. The wind drops to a dead calm, glassy conditions. The swell is a modest 4 ft from the north, with a period of 9 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell, giving it some shape. The combined energy is a solid 186 (moderate). But the catch is the wave comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and it’s only a 1 out of 10. For a spot that’s "inconsistent" and "fairly exposed," this is a genuine, rare standout. The water temperature is 65°F, which is a massive 5°F warmer than normal – very unusual for this time of year, so the water will feel lovely. It’s glassy, clean, and that’s the best we’ll see. It’s a break for beginners, but with the crowd profile saying "sometimes," you might see a few others with the same idea. This is the one to point your board at.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. Tuesday the 21st through Sunday the 27th of July is a long stretch of tiny, weak swell (2 ft to 3 ft) with short periods and cross-shore or onshore winds. The combined energy drops right back into the low double digits and single digits (57, 56, 47, 74, 38, 28, 23, 20, 10, 14, 1, 9, 28, 27). Just poor conditions. The wind picks up again, and it’s not worth the paddle.

The final days, Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th, offer a brief shift. On Monday morning, the wind swings to a light offshore from the WSW, and we get a clean 2 ft swell from the south with a 5-second period. Combined energy is a paltry 28 (weak). Tuesday morning sees a similar offshore wind from the SW, with a 3 ft, 4-second south swell and 24 combined energy. It’s clean, but the swell is tiny and weak. It’s a last gasp, but it’s not the one to get excited about.

So, in short: one real standout on Monday morning, July 20th. Glassy, warm water, and a rare chance at a clean wave. Everything else is a skip. The forecast can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, mark that Monday morning on your calendar.

Rusty.

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