Staithes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s be honest with you. It’s a bit flat out there for a while. The first week is looking pretty desperate for a wave at Staithes, and you’ll be staring at a lot of crumble for your troubles. We’ve got a few pulses of energy, but the winds are going to chop it up and ruin the shape. It’s not until the 24th that we finally get a bit of glass and something surfable, and even then it’s super small. The real kicker is that there's a long stretch coming up with barely anything on the cards, so don’t hold your breath for a miracle.

The initial bump of swell on the 20th and 21st looks like a bit of a tease. We see the size jump, with readings of 4ft up to 7ft and the energy climbing to 639, but the wind is just all over the place. We’re looking at a mix of onshore, cross-onshore, and a 35 km/h north cross-on that’s going to leave it lumpy and messy. This is not the clean, rippable surf we want; it’s more of a wrestle than a ride. You’d be better off doing something else on those days.

Then, after that wind-blown mess, the swell fades out hard. By the 25th, we’re back down to ankle-biters, just 1ft and lower, and the energy levels fall off a cliff to single digits. That run of small, wind-blown waves stretches out for days, right through to the end of the month and into September. The wind is mostly cross-off, which will keep the surface tidy, but with waves that small, tidy doesn’t help. You’d need a log and a lot of patience, but even then it's not going to be a classic.

The one small window where you could get a fun one is the morning of Monday the 24th. The swell is a tiny 3ft, but it’s glassy, and that makes all the difference. The energy is weak at 73, but clean and glassy beats big and messy, every time. It’s not a standout by any means, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. For the rest of the week, the outlook is grim, with not a single option worth getting excited about.

Looking further ahead, the first week of September is bone dry. We are talking about pretty much nothing on the face of it. With the consistency so poor, a blank run like this is a bit more normal for the area. Forecasts can and do change, but right now, you’re not missing anything. Don't get your hopes up for that period.

We do have a little burst of size coming through around the 20th and 21st of August, but with that onshore wind, this is not a standard surf break setup. With the wind and the chop, the break looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, if that’s your thing.

Otherwise, keep the board in the car and the wax fresh. It’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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