South Shields Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, this is a tough one. The next 16 days are looking pretty flat and messy for the most part. We’re not talkin’ about a few quiet days; we’re lookin’ at a real long stretch of poor conditions. From the start of the period right through to the end of July, it’s a proper struggle to find anything worth paddling out for. The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until the very end of the forecast.

The only break on the cards is South Shields, and to be blunt, it’s a beginner’s spot that’s inconsistent and rarely breaks well. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 60°.

We kick off on Thursday 16th July with a tiny 1.3ft swell from the NE, but with a light breeze and a combined energy of just 9, it’s basically a lake. The next few days are just a write-off. Friday the 17th brings a bit of wind and a 3.3ft swell, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy – straight-up poor. Saturday the 18th sees a bigger 5.9ft swell from the NNE, but again, it’s cross-onshore and messy. The energy picks up to 312, but with the wind howling, it’s no good for a paddle.

The highlight of the whole 16 days, if you can call it that, is looking like Tuesday 21st July. The swell is only 2.6ft to 3.0ft from the NE, but it’s glassy. Absolute flat calm. The combined energy is weak, around 74 to 77, so these are tiny, clean little waves. For a beginner or someone with a longboard, this might be your only window for a fun, if small, session. The crowds are sometimes a problem here, but with surf this small, it might be quiet.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are just poor and tiny again. There’s a brief moment on the 23rd morning with glassy conditions and a 3.3ft swell, but it’s still a weak 93 energy. You’d be scratching for any ride.

The rest of the week into August is just a flat, windy mess. The wind often goes offshore or cross-off, which is nice, but the swell is gone – we’re talking 0.3ft and 0.7ft swells with energy in the single digits. Not a wave to be had.

The final chance, and it’s a long shot, is Friday 31st July. The morning brings a 4.3ft NNE swell with clean conditions and a light breeze. The energy is 181, which is a moderate pulse. The direction is okay, but the period is a short 7 seconds. It’s still surfable, but it’s nothing special. By the afternoon, the wind swings onshore and chops it up again.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is a tiny, glassy day on Tuesday 21st July. Look for a longboard and enjoy the clean, small waves. After that, it’s a long wait for a slightly punchier, but still ordinary, morning on the 31st of July. Don’t expect much else. This is a pretty normal blank run for this area.

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