Staithes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks. Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the Staithes area over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a grim stretch. The first real glimmer of a wave doesn’t show up until the 22nd, and even then, it’s a tough sell.

The whole forecast period is a battle against tiny, weak swell and tricky wind. For the first few days, we’re looking at a real struggle. The only break that’s even on the radar is Staithes itself, a reef setup that’s inconsistent and can draw a crowd. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a small comfort for the long lulls.

We kick off on Wednesday the 22nd of July. A 4ft swell from the north rolls in, with a middling 8-second period, and a combined energy of 201 (moderate). The wind is a light onshore, and the call is poor surf conditions. It’s not worth a paddle.

Thursday the 23rd of July morning drops to 3ft from the north-northeast, period a short 6 seconds, and energy is a weak 57. The wind goes glassy, which is a major positive, but the wave quality is still described as “very ordinary.” You might get a few crumbly ones if you’re desperate, but it’s not a standout.

From Friday the 24th of July through to the 1st of August, the trend is a long, painful gap of tiny, weak, or poorly-winded surf. Heights barely touch 3ft, periods are short, and energy levels often drop below 100. The best of this weak run is Monday the 27th of July afternoon, when a 3ft north swell with an 8-second period and a combined energy of 104 (moderate) meets glassy conditions. Even then, it’s still just “surfable but very ordinary.”

The one true standout, and it’s a long-range promise, appears on the 1st of August. Saturday morning and afternoon sees a 4ft swell from the east, with a 6-second period and a combined energy jumping to 131 in the morning and 163 in the afternoon (moderate). The wind is a moderate cross-shore, which isn’t ideal, but the energy is the highest we’ve seen. This is the best on offer, but it’s still a far cry from perfect. The east swell direction is not the optimum northwest for Staithes, so expect it to be a bit bumpy and disorganised.

Sunday the 2nd of August actually cleans up nicely. The swell drops slightly to 4ft from the east, but the wind goes completely glassy in the afternoon. The combined energy is 117 (moderate). This is the pick of the whole period. The glassy conditions will make the most of that not-great swell direction, offering the cleanest, most user-friendly waves of the entire 16-day window. For a beginner, 4ft is manageable, but it’s not a total pushover.

After that, the wheels fall off again. From the 3rd of August onward, it’s back to tiny, weak swells with poor wind, right through to the 6th of August. The north swell on the 5th of August brings a 10-second period, but the swell height is only 0.7ft and energy is a pathetic 21.

So, to wrap it up: The best wave of the outlook is on Sunday the 2nd of August at Staithes. The 4ft east swell and the glassy afternoon wind will give you the best chance at a clean, surfable wave. The 1st of August is a close second for sheer energy, but it’s a cross-windy affair. The rest is a write-off. Don’t expect much else.

Rusty.

Read more