Staithes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a brew and listen up. I’m looking at the 16-day crystal ball for Staithes, and if you’re a surfer, you’re gonna need some patience. There’s a proper dry spell to kick things off.

The first stretch is a real bummer. From Tuesday the 28th right through to the 3rd of August, it’s flat. I’m talking tiny, powerless waves that aren’t worth paddling out for. The wind is all over the shop, mostly cross-off or cross, but it’s clean because the swell is just too small to do anything with. You’d be bobbing around like a cork. That’s a solid week of nothing.

Things start to show a pulse on Tuesday the 4th of August. We get a tiny 3ft swell from the east, but it’s a short period of 6 seconds, so it’s weak and won’t have any push. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’s clean, but it’s just very ordinary. Don’t get excited.

Then, we’ve got a big gap until Thursday the 6th of August. That morning, the forecast changes. The swell jumps right up to 8ft from the north, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 1028, so there’s a lot of water moving. But look, this is getting big. 8ft is pushing it for all but the experts, and it’s a steep, powerful swell. The wind is a clean cross-off from the WSW, so the surface will look good, but the size will be intimidating. It’s a marginal call.

Friday the 7th of August is the most interesting day, and the best of the whole run. We’ve got a 6ft swell from the north on Friday morning, dropping to 5ft in the afternoon. The period is a solid 9 seconds, so it’s got some proper shape. The combined energy is moderate to strong. The killer part? Friday afternoon, the wind swings to a light SE at 6 mph, giving us a clean cross-off. The report says “expect good surf conditions” for that session. This is the standout. The swell is a solid size for an intermediate, and the conditions will be tidy. If you can only paddle out once in this whole forecast, make it Friday afternoon.

After that, things get messy. Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th are small and junky, with onshore winds and rain. The 10th and 11th have a bit of swell, but the wind is terrible, mostly onshore and fresh, making it a lumpy, choppy mess. That’s more kite-surfing weather than surfing, to be honest.

The last little glimmer is on Wednesday the 12th of August. We get a 3ft, 7-second swell from the NNE with a gentle offshore wind from the south. It’s clean, but it’s a weak, small wave. “Surfable but very ordinary” is the word.

So, final word: the whole 16 days is a test of patience. The one true standout is Friday the 7th of August, especially the afternoon session. That’s the one you want to circle. Be safe out there.

Rusty

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