Woolacombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are going to test your patience if you’re chasing a wave at Woolacombe. There’s a big, ugly gap of nothing good at the start, and it takes a while for things to get even slightly interesting. It’s not going to be a total write-off, but you’ll have to pick your moments, and the standouts are few and far between.

The forecast kicks off with a whole lot of nothing. The first week is a real dud. We’re looking at onshore winds, lumpy and choppy conditions, and surf that’s just messy. A few pulses come through—like on the 31st with a 8ft swell—but the wind is howling cross-on at 22 mph, so it’s blown out before it even gets going. That’s a kite-surfing day, not a paddle-surfing one. Even when the swell dips, the wind stays on it. The water is warm, about 67°F with an anomaly of 5°F warmer than usual, which is notable, but you won’t be enjoying it in these conditions.

This poor run stretches right through the 4th of September. That’s nearly a week of no recommendations. On the 4th, we see the biggest swell of the period, 10ft, but it’s coming with a strong onshore wind, so it’s a complete mess. Not worth your time unless you’re an expert and even then, it’s a battle. The wave energy does spike to 1136, which is strong, but the quality is zero. There’s just no way to make that fun.

The 5th and 6th of September are small, dropping right down to 2ft. The wind finally eases up a bit, and the 6th shows some clean conditions early with a cross-off breeze. But there’s no push in the swell—a weak 42 in wave energy—so you’re just floating around on ankle-biters. Not worth suiting up for.

Then we hit the second week. The 7th and 8th show a bit more life, with the swell coming back up to 4ft and 5ft. The 7th has a proper long-period groundswell at 12 seconds, which is great for shape. Morning looks best, with a gentle cross-on breeze, but the energy is moderate at 397. It’s surfable, but still not what you’d call good. A low-score "poor surf conditions" is what we’re dealing with.

We finally get our one true standout right at the end, on the morning of Friday the 11th of September. This is the highlight. It’s still small, only 3ft, but the wind turns offshore from the east-northeast at just 9 mph, giving you clean, glassy conditions. It’s a "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" rating, but the offshore wind is everything. The period is a short 7 seconds, but the clean face will make it fun. It's the only real window you’ve got. The wave energy is weak at 66, so it’s not powerful, but it will be clean and playful.

The 12th of September also offers a glimmer, with a clean cross-off breeze and a bit more push, up to 137 in energy. A long period of 11 seconds implies better shape and more energy, and it’s clean. This is worth a look, too. But after that, it fades away again. The 13th and 14th have offshore winds, but the swell is tiny, just 1ft to 2ft. It’s a lake out there.

So, look. The long-range is a drought. The first week is a total washout. The only real recommendations fall on the 11th and the 12th of September. Treat those early morning sessions as your window. Everything else is either too small, too blown out, or both. Keep your eyes on the forecast; things can change, but as it stands, you have a couple of clean, shoulder-high days coming, and then it’s done.

Stay stoked,

Rusty

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