Staithes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's happening at Staithes.

Honestly, mate, it's a tough stretch. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off for a proper paddle. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7ft to 2ft, and the energy is weak (between 4 and 46). The water temp is sitting at 62°, which is a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year, so that's a bit of a treat if you're just having a paddle, but there's no wave to ride.

We've got a massive gap with no real surf on offer. From now, right through until the 20th of August, it's just small, weak, and often messy. You'll see some glassy or offshore windows – like the Friday afternoon of the 14th with glassy conditions, or the Tuesday morning of the 18th with a light offshore – but the swell is so small (1ft to 2ft) it's barely worth the wax. The crowds are often an issue here too, which is a pain when it's this small.

The one faint glimmer in the first week is the 23rd of August. Sunday morning and afternoon look surfable, but it's very ordinary. The swell is still tiny at 3ft from the NNE, with a short period of 7 seconds giving weak energy (71). The wind is light and glassy or cross-off, so it'll be clean, but the waves are just a dribble.

Then, as we push into the second week, things get more interesting but also more dangerous. The 27th of August, Thursday, sees a big swell jump to 7ft from the north with a 10-second period, and the energy is strong (942). But the wind is a fresh cross-shore from the WNW at 22 mph, making it lumpy and messy. This is serious, expert-only territory. The next day, the 28th, is even bigger at 8ft (904 energy) with a strong breeze from the WNW at 25 mph, creating a messy cross-chop. For a reef break like Staithes, that's a heavy, ugly setup. Honestly, if you're looking at that, it's more interesting for the kite surfers than a paddle session.

So, the standout? You're looking at the 26th of August. Wednesday afternoon. The swell is 5ft from the north with a 7-second period, giving moderate energy (254). The wind is a light offshore from the SSW at 6 mph, which will keep it clean. It's still just surfable, not spectacular, but it's the best of a bad lot. The forecast is a bit speculative this far out, but it's the one to pencil in. For a reef break, 5ft with a short period is manageable for intermediates, but the crowds can be a problem.

Bottom line: a lot of waiting, one small window of clean but tiny surf, and a big, messy, expert-only swell to finish. Not a classic run, but it's the lot.

Rusty.

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