Woolacombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for Woolacombe. We’ve got a decent pulse of swell rolling in, but the wind is going to be a right pain for most of it. The water is sitting at 66°, which is a fair bit warmer than usual for this time of year – a solid 5° above the norm, so you might not need the thickest rubber.

The first real blob of energy arrives on Monday the 7th of September. There’s a moderate amount of juice in the water, with a combined energy reading of 872, and it’s a solid 5ft of swell from the west. But the issue is the wind. It’s hammering onshore from the WNW at 15 mph, turning what could be a fun day into a bit of a washing machine. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s not going to have much shape either. Monday afternoon pushes that energy up to 940 with a 6ft west swell, but the wind sticks onshore. It’s a frustrating one.

Tuesday the 8th keeps that energy going, with a combined energy of 645 and 7ft of west swell on the morning, but again, a fresh onshore breeze from the WNW at 22 mph is going to make it lumpy. The swell period is still short at 9 seconds, so it’s not going to be offering much in the way of a proper wall. The afternoon sees the swell build to 8ft, but the wind is still onshore from the west. This is looking more like a day for the windsurfers to be honest, not a paddle session.

We get a bit of a break in the action, but the wind doesn’t let up. By Thursday the 10th, we’re back to a 7ft west swell with a combined energy of 608, but the wind is still fresh and onshore from the west. It’s a real shame because the size is there, but the conditions are just not cooperating.

The whole first week is like this. There’s a consistent run of west swells, mostly between 5ft and 8ft, but the wind is almost always onshore, onshore, onshore. The water temperature anomaly is a bit of a teaser, but the wind is the real story here. The few days where the wind shifts to a cross-off or cross direction, like on the 6th and 12th, the swell is tiny, under 3ft. It’s a frustrating pattern.

Now, if you’re willing to wait, there’s a glimmer of hope. On Thursday the 17th of September, we get a mention of “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” for the first time in the whole forecast. The wind finally swings offshore from the ENE, a light 3 mph breeze. The swell is only 2ft from the west, but with a clean face and a period of 10 seconds, it’ll be worth a paddle for a longboard. The combined energy is a weak 104, so it’s not going to be a big day, but it will be clean. The ENE wind holds for the next few days, but the swell drops off quickly. The 18th has a 5ft west-northwest swell, but with a very short 6 second period, it’ll be a bit of a mushburger, even with the offshore wind. The 19th is even smaller.

So, the standout window is Thursday the 17th. It’s not going to be pumping, but it’s the only time in the forecast where you’ll get clean, offshore conditions. The rest of the period is a classic case of "size is there, but the wind is a bastard". It’s a shame, because the energy is there, but the onshore winds just ruin it.

Rusty.

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