Woolacombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Woolacombe.

To be straight with you, the first week and a bit is a write-off. From Monday the 14th through Saturday the 19th, it’s a mess. We’ve got a solid 4 ft to 7 ft of lumpy, wind-affected swell, but the wind is just hammering it. It’s mostly cross-on or onshore from the WSW and W, gusting 19 to 22 mph. The combined swell energy sits between 202 and 541 (moderate to strong), but with that breeze, the surface is chopped up. There’s nothing worth paddling out for. Don’t bother.

There’s a bit of a gap after that. Sunday the 20th morning offers a tiny window. Swell drops to 4 ft from the west with a 9-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the NE at just 3 mph. The comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" and the energy is only 220. It’s not a stand-out, but it’s the first clean-looking moment. For a quick, honest session, it’s the only thing on offer. That afternoon the wind swings and the swell drops, so get it early.

Then from Monday the 21st through Thursday the 24th we’re back to poor or marginal conditions. Swells are either tiny, short period, or blown out, except for a couple of glassy moments. Wednesday the 23rd morning has 3 ft from the west, a 10-second period, and glassy conditions (188 energy), but it’s still “very ordinary.” Thursday the 24th morning has clean offshore wind from the east, but the swell is only 2 ft – not enough to get excited about.

Now, the real standout is Sunday the 27th. This is the one to circle. We’ve got a proper 10 ft groundswell from the WSW, with a 10-second period in the morning and 11 seconds in the afternoon. The combined energy is huge: 1397 in the morning and 1780 in the afternoon. Both sessions are glassy or clean. The comment says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers" – and they mean it. This is big, powerful surf. At over 8 ft, it’s strictly for experienced crew. The wind is light or offshore, so the faces will be clean. This is your best bet by a long shot. The water temp is not flagged as unusual, so it’s about average for the time of year.

Monday the 28th still has some decent leftover energy, 5 ft in the morning with glassy conditions and 382 energy, and a 6 ft in the afternoon – but the afternoon gets a bit of a side-off breeze, so the morning is the cleaner window.

Beyond that, Tuesday the 29th morning looks like it’s back to the choppy, cross-on conditions, so that run of quality is short-lived.

Stay safe, score that Sunday.

Rusty.

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