South Shields Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty lean for South Shields. There's no real swell on the cards for most of the period, and the little bumps we do get are often messy. Let’s break it down.

We kick off on Monday, 31st August, with a tiny 2ft north swell and a short period of 7 seconds. The wind is cross-off, but the wave energy is weak (45), and the conditions are just poor. This is a theme for the first week or so. There’s a stretch from Monday right through to the end of Friday, 4th September, where the swell is ankle to knee-high at best, with mostly cross-off or fresh offshore winds. The water is about average for this time of year.

The first real glimmer comes on Saturday, 5th September. The morning is still small with a 3ft north-west swell and a very short period of 4 seconds, but by the afternoon the combined energy climbs to moderate (133) with a 3ft north swell at 9 seconds. The wind is cross-off from the west-northwest, and the waves are clean. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far.

The most promising day in the whole 16-day window is Sunday, 6th September. The morning sees a 2ft north swell with a 7-second period, and the wind is offshore from the south-southwest at 9 mph. The wave energy is still low (54), but it’s enough for a few fun, clean waves. The break is inconsistent, so you’ll have to be patient, and crowds are possible. The afternoon holds, too, with a 2ft north swell and moderate offshore wind from the southwest. This is your best bet.

After that, things get messy again. Monday, 7th September has a morning of 2ft north swell with offshore wind, but the afternoon brings a 4ft south-east swell at only 6 seconds – that’s a short-period, cross-off wind mess with poor conditions. The rest of the week into mid-September is a mix of tiny swells, short periods, and cross-shore or cross-onshore winds. The combined energy occasionally bumps up to moderate values (125-166) on the 13th, but the wind and direction are all wrong, making it unrideable.

Tuesday, 15th September is the last day in the window, and it’s a 2ft north-east swell with a light cross-off breeze. The energy is low (33), and the conditions are just ordinary. Honestly, for a beginner-friendly spot, it’s not great, but it’s not totally hopeless either. With such inconsistent surf, a blank run like this is more normal for the area. Keep an eye on the forecasts – it tends not to stay poor for long.

Rusty.

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