Sutton-on-Sea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’ve been staring at the charts and, well, it’s a pretty quiet spell ahead for Sutton-on-Sea. There's a long gap before anything really gets going, so don't rush down there with your board just yet. The first week is a bit of a write-off with barely a ripple and cross-shore or onshore winds messing with what little there is. But, there is one moment that stands out, and it’s the one we need to focus on.

Alright, look. For most of the coming days, the surf is flat or incredibly weak. You've got days with swell heights of just 0.3 ft to 1 ft. The combined swell energy is laughable, often in single digits or just above. A lot of those days have clean-looking offshore winds but with zero swell to work with. Tuesday morning on the 19th has some offshore wind but only 1 ft of swell from the NNE – it’s barely a ripple. The Thursday afternoon on the 20th bumps up to 2 ft but it’s still poor. This whole stretch is just a waiting game.

The first real glimmer comes on Friday the 21st. The morning shows 4 ft of swell from the north with a short period of 8 seconds and combined energy hitting 200 – that’s moderate energy at last. The wind is cross-offshore from the NW at 16 mph, making it clean. But the surf conditions are still rated poor. The afternoon gets stronger onshore cross-wind at 19 mph which will chop it up. Not the one to get excited about.

Now, here is the one to circle on your calendar. Saturday the 22nd of August is your window. Early morning, Sutton-on-Sea is looking at a solid 4 ft of north swell, same 8-second period, but the combined energy is strong at 291. The wind is light from the NW at 6 mph, a clean cross-offshore breeze. That’s the sweet spot – a clean, surfable wave for the first time in over a week. Just be aware the afternoon turns to a hateful onshore easterly at 12 mph, spoiling the party. So it’s a dawn patrol mission or nothing.

For the rest of the outlook, the following week slides back into small, weak waves. Sunday the 23rd has glassy conditions in the afternoon but only 2 ft. From the 24th onward, it’s mostly small, poor-quality surf with lumpy cross-chop. There’s a brief moment of fresh offshore wind on the 29th of August but with only 1 ft of swell, it’s not going to be worth the wet suit zipper.

That Saturday the 22nd is the standout: 4 ft of north swell, clean conditions, light cross-offshore wind. Get on it early.

- Rusty

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