Woolacombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Woolacombe over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty flat and frustrating. We’ve got a long stretch of very small, weak swell with next to no energy behind it. The first real surfable day doesn't show up until Wednesday morning, the 12th of August, but even then, we’re only talking about 2ft from the west with a weak 10-second period. The combined energy is a paltry 73 (moderate wave energy), and while the wind is offshore from the east, cleaning it up, it’s still just a tiny wave. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

That little bump fades fast, and we’re back into a long run of poor conditions. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore from the west and northwest, chopping up what little swell there is. The water temperature is sitting at 66° – that’s a full 4° warmer than normal for this time of year, which is notable. The ocean feels like a warm bath, but there’s just nothing to ride.

The pattern doesn’t really change until Tuesday morning, the 18th of August. We get another small uptick, with 3ft from the west and a 7-second period. The wind is offshore from the east again, making it clean, but combined energy is only 90 (weak to moderate). Still just a weak, short-period wave that’s barely worth getting wet for.

Then we hit the real standout. The morning of Saturday the 22nd of August is the one to circle on your calendar. We’ve got a solid 10ft groundswell from the west, with a 11-second period. The combined energy jumps to a massive 2034 (strong to very strong wave energy). This is proper swell. However, the wind is cross-shore from the north at 16 mph, which will be putting a bit of chop on the face. This is serious size – over 8ft, so this is for experienced surfers only. It’s a marginal call due to the wind and tide, but if you’re an expert and you can handle a bit of a mess, this is the biggest wave of the entire forecast.

Sunday the 23rd of August cleans up a bit. The morning shows 6ft from the west-northwest with a 7-second period. The wind is light and cross-shore from the north-northwest, with combined energy at 340 (moderate). It’s still a bit lumpy from the wind, but it’s a step down in size and still a decent option for those who missed the big Saturday session.

For the last few days, we settle back into small, clean conditions. Monday the 24th of August morning is glassy – east wind, 2ft, but with a very long 14-second period. That’s a groundswell, and combined energy is 181 (moderate). For a point break or a reef, this would be magic, but here at Woolacombe, a beach and reef setup, that long period can make the waves break a bit too straight, so don’t expect perfection. Still, it’s the cleanest the water will be all week.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. Saturday the 22nd of August is the big, powerful swell for experts only, and Monday the 24th of August offers the cleanest, glassy conditions with a long-period groundswell.

Rusty.

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